"If we try to say what the thesis is at the moment, it is an unfavorable situation, double-digit inflation - over 16%, reduces people's purchasing power. The prices of goods are increasing, and it is becoming more and more difficult for a person with enough good food to get some other basic services and services. We do not have a budget, we do not have a regular government. These two blows that were dealt to us as a European country - the postponement of Schengen, the postponement of the Eurozone - this is also discouraging," said former social minister Hristina Hristova in the studio of "The Day" ON AIR".

She defined the situation as difficult and unfavorable, but noted that there were forecasts for it at the end of last year.

"I was surprised to read that there will be a state store. Let it be tried, but the main characteristic of Bulgaria is a country with a free market economy and free competition, and it is believed that competition, when it is not deformed, really contributes to normal prices of goods and services, a normal cost of people's lives," Hristova pointed out to Bulgaria ON AIR.

Bulgaria with the least increase in the price of agricultural products in the last 3 months of 2022 in the EU

The guest believes that people have a new consumer behavior - they have started to look for promotional prices, not to buy from places with high prices, and not to go to stores where high prices are known to be maintained.

"The cartel was not invented now, because we are in a period of high inflation and increased prices. The cartel was invented a long time ago, and we will hardly be saved as an island if there are no cartel agreements between traders, manufacturers and intermediaries," said Hristova.

"We suffer from insufficient effectiveness of the control bodies and they must increasingly enter into their true function and be effective," added the former social minister.

According to her, the good news from the budget we are expecting is that the level of standard social benefits and the minimum wage has been preserved.

"In the middle of the year, this year's budget for new increases in the minimum wage has not been considered. Of course, it sounds good, but experiments should not be done. Pensions were increased three times in the past year, and all three times outside the basic principles of the pension insurance system, which is a blow to the pension system", emphasized Hristova.

According to her, a definition of energy poverty should be made so that from January 1, 2024 it can be worked with and people can be helped.

"In the same way, I think that the social assistance system should be reformed. It is very backward, it does not give real support to those who need it. We are still working with very old dimensions that are absolutely inadequate", he pointed out Hristova.

sustenance

Christina Hristova