"The protests announced for today against the expansion of the blue and green zones for paid parking in Sofia and the increase in prices will not change the decision of the Sofia Municipal Council", said Mayor Vasil Terziev. According to the mayor, the reform is mandatory in order to have order in parking and funds to return to the neighborhoods for investments. Proposals have already been received from the district mayors on how to invest the money, Terziev explained
"I respect the protests! We have never stopped protesting! Fortunately, we live in a country where we can still protest, express our opinion, so there is nothing wrong with that, but ultimately I and others who are involved in these decisions are obliged to make the right long-term decision.
Ultimately, citizens see only a small part of everything, while we see the overall framework of transport, how it looks - the deficit that exists; what needs to be done in the neighborhoods; the pressure that exists - from ever-increasing current wage costs, ever-increasing maintenance costs for what has already been built. In order for us to be able to invest in the city, we need funds. When these funds do not come generously from the Central Budget, when they do not come easily from European funds, because they are decreasing, since Sofia is already in a different category, and we do not have the desire for very drastic measures related to taxes, it is normal for us to use every opportunity, nevertheless, to take a step forward. For me, the most important thing is that there will be a tangible difference in what neighborhoods will get from this reform.