Municipal councilors from "Blue Bulgaria" are submitting a report to the Sofia Municipal Council (SOC) with a proposal to establish a temporary commission to examine the circumstances surrounding a contract for the supply of buses for the municipal company "Stolich Autotransit" EAD. The reason is suspicions of significantly inflated prices in the deal. This was announced by the press center of the formation.
According to the submitted reasons, information about the purchase of buses at a price of about 80,000 euros per unit with an approximate market value of 9,000 euros raises questions about the expediency, transparency and protection of the public interest, BTA specified. From "Blue Sofia" insist that the commission establish all the facts regarding the negotiation procedure, pricing, decision-making and approval.
According to the petitioners, this refusal aims to protect the interests of the Sofia Municipality, but creates a risk of legal claims and additional costs for the budget.
It is proposed that the commission be composed of seven municipal councilors from different political groups with a term of office of 45 days. It should have the authority to request all documents on the deal, including contracts, annexes, invoices, internal protocols, correspondence and market research, as well as to hear officials and external experts.
The petitioners point out that the creation of a temporary commission is necessary to restore public trust and to clarify how public funds are spent in Sofia.
BTA recalls that at the last meeting of the SOS, the proposal to change the management of "Stolich Autotrans" was not adopted. "No arguments were heard about what was happening in the company, about how old buses were being bought at prices 8, 9, 10 times higher than they could be found," Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev said at the time. He stressed that the current management of the company showed no interest in reform.