Ministers from ITN party walk out of cabinet meeting

Three ministers from "There is Such a People" party (ITN) have walked out of the regular meeting of the Bulgarian cabinet. Bulgaria’s Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Grozdan Karadzhov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodora Genchovska and Minister of Youth and Sports Radostin Vasilev have walked out of the Council of Ministers’ meeting, which is discussing amendments to the country’s state budget. Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov was absent.

According to the information, Foreign Minister Genchovska called for an increase of salaries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Karadzhov had demanded additional funding for important road infrastructure projects. However, Premier Petkov and Finance Minister Vassilev were against the additional increase of the budget deficit. According to the Ministers from ITN party, the amendment of the state budget should not be discussed before the coalition council, which is scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Despite the ministers' walking out of the cabinet meeting, the government approved the budget update. The draft will be introduced to parliament today. "It is not appropriate for one of the partners to leave the meeting," Tourism Minister Hristo Prodanov said. He said the ITN representatives had gathered to clarify their positions. He added that the government is not in danger and the budget will be passed. /BGNES