Bulgarian President vetoes budget revisionAugust 7, 2013 - 18:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev vetoed a budget revision on Wednesday, Aug 7, saying the Socialist-led government had not shown enough transparency in its use of public money in the European Union's poorest state, Reuters reported. Last Thursday parliament backed a plan to raise new debt in defiance of the government's opponents, including protesters who have been demonstrating for weeks against corruption. "I return the provisions about the revenues, expenses and planned new debt for reconsideration," Plevneliev told a news conference. "It is correct for the expenses to be transparent so that we know what they will be spent on." Bulgaria's president is chosen by popular vote. The government has said it will increase the 2013 budget deficit to 2 percent of gross domestic product from 1.3 percent to spur a weak economy and help the needy, raising up to 1 billion levs ($681 million) in new debt to finance the shortfall and payments on maturing debt. The plan will now be returned to parliament with analysts expecting the assembly to overturn Plevneliev's veto when the lawmakers return from their summer holidays in early September. The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, is composed of Socialists and the ethnic Turkish MRF and has been in power for just over two months. It controls barely half of the seats in parliament and relies on the passive support of Attack, a nationalist party, to stay in office. Supporters of the revision say Bulgaria needs more money to issue food vouchers for employees and additional funds for employment programs for the disadvantaged. However, many Bulgarians say extra spending would just fuel inefficiency. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |