Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Doling out money gives rise to corruption: Ex-PM Ivan Kostov

Ivan Kostov
Photo: Ani Petrova

“Doling out money gratuitously to people in need is impossible because the resources are limited. The government would come out of the crisis with a huge deficit,” Ivan Kostov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria in the 1997-2001 period said for the Bulgarian National Radio.

“According to the EU, the country’s GDP is going to go down by 7.2%. That means EUR 4.2 billion. There is no way the government can find the billions needed to compensate for all incomes. Calls for such a thing are populist. Even if it does find the money from somewhere, it couldn’t be absorbed and will only give rise to corruption,” Ivan Kostov said. He added that Bulgaria is not the only country where measures to address the damages are taken under pressure and urged for taxes not to be changed  mid-year.  



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Sandbars threaten navigation on the Danube in the Bulgarian section of the river

The low level of the Danube River makes navigation in the Bulgarian section difficult. Two sandbars have formed, Ivelin Zanev, executive director of the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River, told..

published on 7/2/25 11:07 AM

Regulation changes to allow foreigners to register as drone operators

The Ministry of Transport has published for public discussion changes to the Regulation on Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The establishment of training centers for drone operators is planned, in which the requirements are almost the same..

published on 7/2/25 10:47 AM

Invitation for planting Bulgarian roses near Niagara Falls

The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Toronto has sent an invitation via Facebook to Bulgarians in Canada to participate in a solemn rose planting ceremony in the municipality of Niagara Falls. The planting ceremony is scheduled to..

published on 7/2/25 10:15 AM