The Sofia Municipal Council (SOC) has adopted the long-awaited change in prices, scope and rules for paid parking. The price of parking in the "blue" and "green" zones is doubling - 2 and 1 euro per hour respectively (at 2 and 1 leva now); the prices of other services such as vignette stickers, official subscriptions, as well as some sanctions - such as the placement of brackets - are also increasing significantly; the scope of the paid zone will significantly grow in stages; and a larger part of the increased parking revenues after the changes will now be spent specifically and more transparently... What does this mean? Carlos Contrera speaks to FACTI, municipal councilor from VMRO
- Mr. Contrera, why do you hate Sofia residents in the Sofia Municipal Council? Parking in the “blue“ and “green“ zones in Sofia will double in price from January 5, 2026. Why…
- I voted categorically against. “Save Sofia“ and PP–DB should come out and explain to the entire society why. In fact, if you rewind the tape, you will see that Boris Bonev, “Save Sofia“, have been proposing this for years. That is, after they were elected, they simply went wild… At the bottom of this whole story with the changes in parking are Bonev, Zografski and “Save Sofia“. “Green“ zone in “Poduyane“ and “Studentski city“ they brought her to her knees five minutes before the committee. But this is the result of letting the young, progressive, smart and beautiful people into the government of Sofia.
Why do you think that with a price increase there will be fewer cars in the center?
For weeks now I have been explaining that the result of these changes will not be a reduction in cars and the release of parking spaces. The price increase will not free up parking spaces, it will not reduce traffic — at least not so much that it will be felt. It is a lie that the places in a business subscription will be significantly reduced. And I will explain to you why — yes, restrictions of 10% of the places in the subzone are being introduced, but it was precisely on the idea of “Save Sofia“ that the subzones were consolidated, i.e. you raise base. That is, this is a trick that Bonev and company applied. You are both supposedly limiting the official subscription, and you are also introducing a rule that will keep the same number. Clever, right?
- An hour in the “green“ zone from 1 leva now becomes 1 euro, in the “blue“ zone — from 2 leva to 2 euros. Justify the increase in price. 1 euro is 1.95583 leva, and the Sofia Municipality made the two currencies 1 to 1, because…
- Let the submitters of this report from “Save Sofia“ and PP–DB justify it, if they can. Their signatures are below, not mine. I think that the removal of the paper coupon is a mistake, I think that the new prices set are excessive — really — and the moment is not at all appropriate.
Literally on the day the euro comes in, you raise parking prices too…
I hear that citizens are already organizing to complain about the changes in the court. Completely logical and normal. There will probably be protests. “Save Sofia“ and PP–DB always act like a bull in a glass shop.
- The “Blue“ zone will work from 9 am to 9 pm every day, including holidays. Are there that many visitors in the center on Sundays?
- For me, the starting time should have been kept as before — 8:30 am. Some argument was made that by starting the zone at 9 am, people would be able to take their children to school and kindergarten more easily.
As far as I remember, the children's kindergartens accept children until 8:20-8:30, and I don't know of any first class starting at 9:00.
So this argument is very weak and it will be interesting in the center, right at the peak of traffic in the morning, when there is no zone.
A zone on Sunday - exotic.
Indeed, in the summer months along Borisova Garden, Doctor's Monument, “Zaimov“ Park there are quite a few visitors, but introducing a whole day zone on Sunday for a few weeks a year is strange…
- Parking prices by place of residence also double - from 100 leva to 100 euros for a “green“ zone and from 150 leva to 150 euro for “blue“. A person lives in “Lozenets“, but works in a “blue“ zone. He pays a fee to live, he pays a fee to work. Is that how it works?
- That's how it works. The expansion of the zones themselves will also create a problem with control — these are thousands of additional parking spaces. On top of that, they also came up with a “yellow“ zone on weekends for Bankya. Another stupid idea.
These changes have violated a basic principle — first we provide the alternative, we build the infrastructure, then you propose raising prices.
That's the logic. Now the exact opposite is being done.
- Students will be able to get a vignette sticker for Studentski Grad. How much will it be and how will it be okay?
- As in a “green“ zone — same rules. In my opinion, this is a serious mistake. This is a measure to encourage traffic. You are stimulating them to bring their cars where they don't need them, to park them near the dormitories and to get stuck in a row. For me, introducing an exception for the current address will lead to a precedent. Then others will come and ask for the same — as you accepted for some, why not for others? What do students need a parking sticker for, when the state covers their preferential public transport cards? Why should a student travel by car in Sofia, and use a dormitory at preferential prices?
- Removing a bracket placed for improper parking jumps from 30 leva to 30 euros. Lifting with a repatrak (“spider“) will be paid in penalty parking lots with 75 euros. This is for the benefit of the residents of Sofia, to make it more convenient for them, right?
- For me, the price of the bracket should be at most the same as the ticket for improper parking - 50 leva. Repatriating with a spider is a measure against those who park incorrectly - this price may be appropriate to scare those who park at intersections, on pedestrian paths, on sidewalks, etc.
- Where are the parking lots, where are the services for the benefit of people, so that they can use their car whenever and wherever they want, and not have to calculate how much they will pay?
- This term will end with zero parking lots built.
We need to divide the topic into two — parking lots in the neighborhoods and parking lots in the center.
It is obvious that in the central part of the city we need to think about and build underground parking lots - for example, under the Prince's Garden, under the "Alexander Nevski" square, next to the parliament, etc. In the neighborhoods there is also a need to build underground or multi-storey parking lots to remove cars from the streets. I do not see how this will happen quickly. Here is the role of the district mayors - to offer a plot of land, to design it quickly, to select a contractor and to build a parking lot. In this mandate, not a single plot of land has been submitted by district mayors to the Central Government for the construction of parking lots.
- From January 2027, parking for electric vehicles will be free for up to three hours in the "blue" and "green" zones. And in Sofia, electric cars are 1%. What problems do they create?
- Free and unlimited parking for electric cars has burdened some sub-zones. The rest of the citizens have started complaining that entire streets are being clogged, where 10-15-20% of those parked are electric cars. I proposed introducing an annual sticker for 600 euros. “Save Sofia“ and PP–DB proposed the option with three free hours, after which each hour is paid without limit. I don't know how appropriate this is, except that it encourages some people to keep their cars in the center, because they can...
- In “Lyulin“ and “Krasno Selo“ the garbage crisis is on the verge. And you have warned several times that the contracts of more areas are expiring. Who are they and when…
- The next areas that will “thunder“ are “Izgrev“, “Slatina“ and “Poduyane“, and after them are “Serdika“, “Ilinden“ and “Nadezhda“. We are heading towards a full-scale crisis with garbage, with snow removal, with the lack of sweeping and washing. Once you get into this scenario, getting out is long, difficult and expensive.
I am not optimistic that the garbage problems will be resolved by the end of the mandate.
Now the efforts should be towards strengthening the municipal cleaning company “Sofekostroy“.
- Is there already some overall vision on how the garbage removal problem will be solved?
- So far I do not see a clear plan and concept on how to manage the cleanliness activities. I expect one, not piecemeal measures. PP–DB to come out and say what and how they plan to do it. The tales “we are fighting the mafia“ I somehow don't get the point of the announcement that contracts will be concluded with some of the companies that participated in the tender after direct negotiations…
Now it turns out that soon there will be a good mafia and a bad mafia.
And until recently everyone was mafia, racketeers, extortionists. PP–DB really messed around with this garbage. The bad thing is that they will flood us with it up to our ears and someone else will be to blame!