The day in 3 news: Raising social security tax on high earners, 5-6 billion euro debt ceiling for 2022 proposed, students might go back to school

The day in 3 news: Raising social security tax on high earners, 5-6 billion euro debt ceiling for 2022 proposed, students might go back to school

© Велко Ангелов


Welcome to the land of rumor. In the past few days there has been feverish speculation about the names of future ministers. Media frenzy was unleashed yesterday when a leaked email from one of the negotiating parties suggested a new structure is being discussed for the Cabinet and a rotating speaker of the parliament. None of that has been ultimately confirmed, so stay tuned for the opening of parliament tomorrow.

The first battle: higher tax for IT specialists

The leader of the biggest party and probable future finance minister - Assen Vassilev, noted today in an FB post, that he will stick to the coalition agreement in tying the social security payments cap to the median wage. Translated, this means that people who receive over 3 thousand levs per month (1500 euro) will have to pay more for social security next year. Since this is a payment due by companies into the system, the IT sector, which pays the country's highest salaries, protested. Vassilev, however, stood firm. "We're not raising taxes, but we will collect them," he said.

10-12 billion levs (5-6 billion euro) debt ceiling for next year, proposes the caretaker government

After it transpired that it is putting together a budget for 2022, the finance ministry today announced that the proposed debt ceiling for next year will be raised. This year's ceiling has been 4.5 billion levs but it was not reached. Bulgaria needs to raise money on the international markets after using the internal market for bonds this year, said finance minister Valery Beltchev. It is still unclear what a new, "regular" government would do, if it's voted in next week.

All students back at school from next week?

The minister of health and the education minister clashed today about when all pupils will be returning to the classroom. The education minister proposed next week, with mandatory testing at least once per week. Hours later, the health ministry pointed out that there were insufficient tests for that available. This shortage has blocked a return for several weeks now, and currently only 1-4 grades are back at school.

Welcome to the land of rumor. In the past few days there has been feverish speculation about the names of future ministers. Media frenzy was unleashed yesterday when a leaked email from one of the negotiating parties suggested a new structure is being discussed for the Cabinet and a rotating speaker of the parliament. None of that has been ultimately confirmed, so stay tuned for the opening of parliament tomorrow.

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