Pay back state bonuses, Bulgaria PM tells officials

Bulgaria’s populist prime minister has called on officials in previous governments to return all bonuses to help the state out of a debt crisis.

Boyko Borisov appealed yesterday to all opposition parties in the Sofia parliament to follow the example of his ruling party and return bonuses or donate them to charity. Mr Borisov has been criticised by the opposition for alleged links to organised crime gangs.

In response to an earlier call by the prime minister, current officials have returned bonuses worth more than €300,000 (£250,000). Mr Borisov had said that in times of crisis government officials should not get additional remuneration.

He claimed the previous Socialist coalition paid millions in bonuses to senior officials which now should be paid back.