Is Bulgaria Repeating Greece 2012? Eurozone Criteria & Statistical Controversy

Donate: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/slobodnipoI What happened in Bulgaria last week — and why did it end with a government resignation? In this clip, Maria explains the build-up: growing public anger over corruption allegations, institutions “captured” by long-standing power networks, and a 2026 budget that — she says — shifted the burden onto small and medium businesses through higher taxes while expanding pay and headcount in parts of the public and security sectors. Then comes the eurozone angle. Maria argues the proposed budget was shaped around Eurozone entry criteria (deficit, inflation, and debt-to-GDP) — but she claims the official figures didn’t reflect reality, including allegations that spending was pushed through a state-controlled development bank to keep it out of the deficit calculation. She also claims inflation was far above the stated target range, and alleges political interference with the national statistics office to produce eurozone-friendly numbers — warning this “feels like Greece before its crisis.” This is Maria’s interpretation of the events and the data dispute — watch the clip and decide how convincing the case is. Full epizode: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJTy3oXCzHShsVuJ-zfiGnx96nuR-BNWB WEB: https://slobodnipodcast.hr/2025/12/21/slobodni-podcast-135-marija-ilijeva-radoslav-ivanov-bugarskoj-se-dogodio-narod/