During the entire period of confinement, Bulgarian deputies and ministers will pay their wages to the public health system to fight the Covid-19 epidemic, Parliament decided on Monday evening.
MEPs voted unanimously at the proposal of the ruling conservative party, Gerb, to give up their salary from April 1. Elected officials have also extended the state of emergency which allows the government to impose containment measures until May 13.
A fragile health system
This will also count for members of government and their political cabinets, as well as heads of government agencies. The donation from the deputies will amount to around 1.44 million leva (740,000 euros) for the period of confinement. Parliament voted on Monday to update the 2020 budget, adopting a 3% deficit, while a balanced budget had been voted on previously.
In addition, a significant increase in unemployment, up to 6.2% is now expected, 42,000 new unemployed having registered since the start of the new coronavirus crisis. With 549 confirmed cases and 22 coronavirus deaths, Bulgaria remains relatively unaffected by the epidemic. The poorest country in the European Union, it had taken severe containment measures since March 13 to allow its health system to cope with the epidemic.
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