16.08.2012

"The policy of the Ministry of Finance is rather to stimulate the good governance of municipalities than "to punish the bad ones", said Deputy Minister of Finance Vladislav Goranov in an interview for the New Television program "Zdravey, Bulgaria" (Hello, Bulgaria). Goranov was adamant that it could not be said that only mayors who were not from GERB managed badly their finances, and gave as example Vidin municipality. The Deputy Minister expressed an opinion that as a whole the municipalities were lowering their debts. "The figures are objective", he stated.
Goranov said further that the pressure for reforms on the railways had never stopped. "For years the railways has existed at the expense of all of us without even ensuring an average level of quality of the services provided to people", the Deputy Minister commented. He stated that the government monthly subsidy for the railways had already been restored, but that the one due for July would not be paid to the company as yet. The Deputy Minister added that the consultations between the management of the Ministry of Transport and BDZ continued and was explicit that further efforts were required from the holding to avoid pressure on the state budget that was a guarantor on the company's loans. He explained further that the BDZ properties whereby the payments to the state would be offset would be directly given to big municipalities that showed interest therein.
Deputy Minister Goranov confirmed that estimates were made in the next year budget to increase pensions. "However, the topic is yet to be discussed", Goranov added.
"It would be appropriate for the Minister of Health not to speak about taxes, the way the Minister of Finance is not discussing specific healthcare activities". This is how Deputy Minister of Finance Vladislav Goranov commented the request for a lower VAT rate for medicines. "There is no way for this to happen and the policy of the Ministry of Finance in this respect is explicit and consistent", Goranov said.