The Chairman of the Metropolitan Municipal Council (SOC) Tsvetomir Petrov called two extraordinary meetings of the council regarding the case with the Simeon lift, as well as the organization of traffic in the center of Sofia, broadcast by BTA. This became known during a briefing of the group of "We continue the change - Democratic Bulgaria". ("Save Sofia") (PP-DB-SS) in the building of the Capital Municipality. Meetings will take place on May 23 at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
In the words of the municipal councilor from the PP-DB-SS group in SOS Boris Bonev, their requests are during this extraordinary meeting to make it clear who is to blame for the situation in which we find ourselves. We insist that the former mayors of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova and Boyko Borisov, come to the hearing at this meeting, said Bonev and added that they are the privatizers of the "Cable lines" EOD. "We think that with their presence, the reasons that led to a contract that absolutely does not protect the public interest will be clarified," added the municipal councilor. The only requirement for the privatizer in this contract is to preserve the subject of activity, which, however, does not mean that the elevators will work, explained Bonev. The reasons for the contract should be clarified with Fandakova and Borisov, who should take responsibility for the situation we are in, he added.
The three Vitosha lifts are in different case studies, Bonev pointed out. The Simeon lift was initially stopped for repairs to the two engines, the company subsequently explained that it had no intention of restoring. Regarding the Dragalev lift, there is a project prepared for the restoration, but the case is with the coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Water, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Regarding the Prince's Lift, Bonev explained that the facilities are dangerous and unfit for restoration, attempts were made to simulate activity over the years, which the court canceled. We plan to propose the removal of the facilities as dangerous, the municipal councilor added.
Regarding the second extraordinary meeting, Bonev pointed out that the Metropolitan Municipality will submit its appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court, with which it will appeal the court's order to suspend the actions regarding the new organization of traffic in the center of Sofia. First, we dispute the legal interest of the association that submitted its request. We think that the argument that the association is of public benefit is not sufficient, Bonev pointed out.
In his words, the court's decision is a disturbing interpretation of what is legal and what is not. It is claimed that the new organization is not carried out on the basis of the law, which is not the case, the municipal councilor added. Bonev emphasized that the reasons he reads within the court's decision do not mean that something has been awarded, only the decision matters, not the reasons, he pointed out.
Bonev drew attention to the fact that the court does not return the old traffic organization and does not declare the new one illegal, it only stops the actual actions on traffic organization. This is a problem because at the moment there are signs that are confusing and do not match the traffic, and it stops us from introducing regulation of traffic lights, which can lead to traffic jams, he added.
The municipal councilor from the PP-DB-SS group also commented on the protest of part of the taxi industry, pointing out that on May 7 there was a meeting with representatives of the protesters. Their request concerned taxi stands - their number, organization and safety, explained Bonev. He added that at the meeting the taxi drivers were asked to make an analysis, as well as to provide their requests for the parking spaces. They have done this, and they are currently in the process of commissioning the first stands to be synchronized with signs, markings, taxi stop control, as well as the construction of new ones or the restoration of existing ones, Bonev added. According to him, their demands are being fulfilled, and the protest speaks of political interference.