The country's financial situation and preparations for this year's budget were discussed at today's meeting of the Joint Governance Council. Speaking at a briefing after the meeting, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said that the government would not increase the social security burden and change taxes when preparing the budget for 2025. The budget will meet the legal requirements - spending up to 40% of GDP and a budget deficit not exceeding 3%. 

However, he did not specify what spending restrictions would be imposed to maintain the 3% deficit. The exchange rate of the Bulgarian lev to the euro is fixed and will not change, Zhelyazkov assured.

• Delyan Dobrev from GERB: The budget deficit is 9%

In another development, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has dismissed Lyudmila Petkova as deputy finance minister.  She headed the Finance Ministry in two caretaker cabinets before her brief stint as deputy minister in Zhelyazkov's cabinet. Petkova was acting finance minister when reports emerged of a 19 billion leva shortfall in the state treasury.