Journalist Stefan Antonov has described Bulgaria ’s Draft Budget for 2026 as reminiscent of the final years of communism , warning that the country risks repeating the errors of an era defined by unchecked spending and political short-termism. In his view, the budget is less about conservative fiscal management and more about political rivalry for populist approval, exacerbating structural weaknesses in the economy. Antonov emphasized that this is not a pre-election strategy, but a symptom of a