The Mayor of the capital district „Ilinden“ Emil Branchevski announced in a video message that he is leaving the coalition „We continue the change - Democratic Bulgaria – „Save Sofia“ and will continue as an independent district mayor. Why did this decision come to be… Emil Branchevski speaks to FACT.
- Mr. Branchevski, you are again in the post of mayor of the capital district „Ilinden“. The Supreme Administrative Court reinstated you to your post after you were removed five months ago due to a conflict of interest (ed. - the case before the BAC was initiated upon the appeal of Branchevski against both decisions, referring to a signal from "outraged citizens", who claimed that he was involved as a director and owner in a trading company registered on February 15, 2024 in Great Britain). Apparently there is no conflict of interest… How did the request and the removal come about…
- From the moment I found out about the existence of this company from the media, I said that there could be no conflict of interest, because it is not mine, I do not participate in it and I did not register it. Now, with its decision, the Supreme Administrative Court has confirmed these words of mine. The removal was achieved through a biased decision of the Municipal Election Commission (MEC), which was overturned by the Supreme Administrative Court. Meanwhile, on December 10, the British Commercial Register forcibly closed the company due to the establishment of violations and illegality in its establishment. That is already in the past. We are looking ahead. There is a lot of work to catch up on.
- You were elected as a district mayor from the “Save Sofia“ quota. What was it then and what is it now. What has changed in your relations with “Save Sofia“…
- “Save Sofia“ now it has nothing to do with the party we founded nearly two years ago. A 180-degree turn in principles, policies and decisions. I cannot continue on the path you took.
- You announced that you are becoming an independent mayor because you owe it to the people. You talk about pressure from “Save Sofia“. How they are pressuring you and what they want from you…
- Pressure is not the right word, but incompetence. Sooner or later the truth always comes out and I owe it to the people.
- How Boris Bonev and Andrey Zografski dictated the work in the municipality at the time when you were removed…
- Completely and absolutely authoritarianly and without respecting the priorities set by the citizens, which we together set for the region.
- What is the influence of Bonev and Zografski in the Sofia Municipal Council…
- I hope from now on - none.
- Boris Bonev intends to initiate a procedure for your exclusion from “Save Sofia“. How do you take this….
- Boris Bonev cannot expel me from “Sapi Sofia“, because I have already left - I expel them, not they me.
- The Supreme Administrative Court has returned you to your post and thanks to the “Sapi Sofia“ team, which has protected you professionally and financially. We heard this from Boris Bonev. Did they help you and how…
- My leaving “Sapi Sofia“ has nothing to do with the case in the Supreme Administrative Court. As I said, for a long time “Sapi Sofia“ has taken a path that I can no longer share.
- Is there an out-of-court settlement, paid for with the interests of the region? This question is being asked by “Save Sofia“?
- If they want to call themselves an adequate party, “Save Sofia“ should learn to ask serious questions, not suggestions and outright nonsense. What exactly does an out-of-court agreement with the Supreme Court mean? If “Save Sofia“ knows how such agreements are made, let them share it with all of us, I have no idea how such things happen.