Sofia, January 31 (BTA) - The government adopted Monday the state budget for 2022. It will be a budget of growth, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov told the press as he emerged from the government meeting.

He said investment in the public sector will be 5.8 per cent of GDP. The budget deficit will be 2.5 per cent of GDP before the COVID relief measures and 4.1 per cent after the measures. "It means that the deficit will finance investment," added Petkov.

For the first time, kindergartens and creches will be free for all, beginning April 2022, the prime Minister said.

The 2022 draft budget has 70 million leva for investing in the construction of new kindergartens, and teacher pay will be 125 per cent of the average wage, he said.

"We have a budget that is fully focused on capital investment and human capital, and making sure that nobody stays below the poverty line," the Prime Minister said.

Among the other advantages of the budget bill that the Prime Minister mentioned were that it will make sure no pensioner stays below the poverty line; that all COVID relief measures, including the 60/40 job rention scheme, stay for at least another six months; and relief for the high electricity bills remains.