2011 is the year of Bulgarian vice-PM and Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov, quipped Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov Tuesday.

Speaking at the 6th yearly meeting of the Bulgarian cabinet and businesses, Borisov lauded the austerity reforms taken up by his Finance Minister as safeguarding Bulgaria"s fiscal stability.

Monday credit rating agency Moody"s had announced a report commended Bulgaria"s "sustainable growth and enhanced fiscal stringency," recalling that Bulgaria is the only EU member to have received a credit rating boost since the start of the global economic crisis.

"Bulgaria has set an example for fiscal discipline for the entire Europe, and anyone who has requested Minister Djankov"s resignation must go and apologize to him," commented Borisov Tuesday.

The Bulgarian PM further slammed the position of President Georgi Parvanov, who Tuesday said that the Borisov cabinet might not last its four-year term till mid-2013, and went on to criticize austerity measures, such as a recently passed upping of the retirement age.

"Instead of thanking us for those beneficial reforms, Parvanov has went on to place a veto on the retirement legislation and the budget for 2012," said an indignant Borisov.

The Bulgarian PM also recalled that the decisions of 23 EU member states at last week"s European Council further are yet another argument in line with his cabinet"s policy of austerity and fiscal discipline.