The BSP accused Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev of not dealing with the garbage crisis and of continuing to pay the "mafia companies", which have controlled the sector for decades. The MP from "BSP - United Left" Gabriel Valkov stated in the studio of "Osche ut djenja" that the actions of Mayor Vasil Terziev show "either managerial incompetence or dependence".
"He talks about fighting the mafia, but he continues to pay it. This is either an inability to manage, or he is subordinate to the same people he claims to be fighting against," said Valkov.
According to him, the public procurement for cleaning the "Lyulin" and "Krasno Selo" districts was launched late, after the old contracts had already expired. Instead of providing a new procedure, Terziev extended the contract of the same company by another six months.
"He had a whole year to prepare a new procurement, but he didn't. Now he is paying the same companies that he supposedly denounces," he added.
The Bulgarian Socialist Party proposed in the Sofia Municipal Council that the procurement be terminated, but this proposal was rejected by the votes of the municipal councilors from "Continuing Change - Democratic Bulgaria."
"Only our councilors supported the termination. PP and DB voted to keep the order. Then they explain to us how they are fighting the mafia - but their actions show the opposite", commented Valkov.
He pointed out that the problem with cleaning in Sofia is "inherited from three decades of right-wing rule":
"For 35 years, the same right-wing mafia has been keeping the city clean. The companies and names change, but the scheme is the same", he explained.
The MP insisted that the municipality stop paying hundreds of millions to private companies and create its own enterprise that would take over all the activities.
"The budget for cleanliness is half a billion leva. This money should go to a municipal company, let's buy equipment, hire people and clean the city ourselves", urged Valkov.
He also commented on the participation of volunteers and politicians in cleaning the capital, defining the initiative as "commendable, but not a solution":
"It's good that people help, but we, the people of Sofia, pay 500 million for a clean city. We didn't give it to go after work to throw out the bins", he pointed out.
Valkov also defended the changes to the Investment Promotion Act, which stipulate that the sale of "Lukoil" assets in our country can only take place after approval by the State Agency for National Security and the Council of Ministers:
"The refinery is a strategic object. It is normal for the state to control who will buy it. The best option is for it to become state-owned – as the "Kozloduy" NPP.
Valkov defended the BSP ministers in the government, emphasizing that they are "working actively" on the inherited problems:
"Of the 500 thousand people without water last week, today 150 thousand remain. This shows that there is a result. The problems have been accumulating for years, but they are now being solved," he added.