Maya Alexandrova in front of FACTI: Sofia's budget is a scheme of interests and backstage deals

The Sofia Municipal Council (SOS) adopted the Sofia budget, which is over 2.8 billion leva, but with “corrections“. At least that's how Mayor Vasil Terziev expressed himself, who even called for the budget not to be adopted in its current form. How is money spent in Sofia… Maya Alexandrova, a member of the Executive Council of Unrepentant Bulgaria, spoke in front of FACTI.

- Mrs. Alexandrova, Sofia's budget was adopted after a lot of controversy. But for the first time we heard Mayor Vasil Terziev call for it not to be adopted because it was reshaped. How do you see this?
- Sofia was supposedly preparing for change – with a new budget, which was supposed to be a breath of fresh air for the city. And what did it turn out to be? Another scheme! Sofia's budget is a scheme of interests and backstage deals. Another trick of the old faces - the municipal councilors. And who pays the price again? Us. All of us - Sofia residents. The capital's budget - instead of being an instrument for fair development, was brutally reshaped by the clientelist majority in the SOS - GERB-SDF, BSP, ITN, and a few more profit-hungry, supposedly independent individuals. Reshaped not for the good of the citizens, but for the good of their pockets. The goal was one and only - to have more to steal. And to eliminate Terziev. And Mayor Terziev correctly pointed out that the budget was “reshaped”. The problem is that it was too late. He should have acted decisively at the beginning of his term. From “Unruly Bulgaria“ we have been warning for a long time about what is being prepared and how it should be resisted. We cannot govern with appeals alone. We need a backbone and allies.

- Then from Boris Bonev from “Save Sofia“ we heard about “slight adjustments“, and it is about 30 million leva. Their projects were included…
- 30 million leva!!! And these were “slight adjustments“? It's like we are talking about pocket money saved from breakfast. This is how Sofia's budget is being shaped - until “our” projects are included. “Our” - i.e. those from which there is a fat pie for the “right” people. The budget includes lobbying projects and bombs. I will only note the 39 million leva shortfall for salaries in public transport. We have also seen a deliberately programmed second part of the crisis with Sofia blocked. The capital and the state are blocked by two crises - transport and garbage. This is the plan of the clientelist majority, which is the same in both the SOS and the government. They hate the people and subject them to torture so that their schemes can continue in the Sofia Municipality and the state. For me, leaving almost two million people without transport, as well as poor people not having money for taxis and not being able to go to the doctor, is a joke.

- And against the background of the demands for money from different classes, let us recall that the municipal councilors raised their salaries, which from about 1800 leva, became 6500 leva…
- This was their first job - right from the moment they took office! Not to tackle Sofia's problems, but directly – Mayor Terziev is also to blame here, because he supported the increase, supposedly to prevent theft. Total lack of political experience. So they stopped stealing that they turned his budget upside down. The same ones to whom he supported a 6,500 leva salary for 4 working days a month. He should have listened when he was told.

- Sofia was left without transport for 6 days, but in the end, there will be a 300 leva increase in the salaries of drivers in the City Transport. Boyko Borisov found them from the budget. And what did Vasil Terziev do…
- This was another demonstration of how SOS "rules" Sofia - without vision, without direction, without courage. But with good direction. The whole spectacle was aimed at showing that "... look, only GERB and Boyko Borisov can solve the problems of the people!". And while they were projecting this on us, we - the citizens, were hostages in our own city. A victim of a man who could never swallow that he had lost Sofia, but showed us how to govern - with terror and punishments! And he used his proxy Vanya Grigorova from "Podkrepa" to organize the blockade of 2 million people. Borisov thinks that Sofia is his personal property. A separate question is how 15 million is taken out of the state budget by a man who has nothing to do with the government. He didn't have any money, they are taking record loans. The GERB headquarters, together with the chairman of the Transport Commission and chairman of BSP-Sofia Ivan Takov and the ITN ordered the strike to be stopped. After all, the strikers wanted a 3-year agreement. They immediately stopped everything and forgot about their demands. Their protest was proven not to be principled and fair, but politically organized. Borisov is afraid of protests. The protest against the blockade gathered many people. This should not be underestimated either. The whole thing turned against GERB, BSP and Vanya Grigorova. Terziev showed character for the first time, although still timidly.

- We heard Mayor Terziev explain what he can and what he cannot do, but where was the Municipal Council, where were the directors of the individual transport companies. We saw the people, but we heard nothing from the managements of the companies…
- While the drivers were protesting, the others had hidden like mice. I apologize for the strong word. We were happy and content. And we - on foot. It's a good thing that at least they didn't put us on scooters this time like in the winter, when the night lines stopped. We understood that in the municipality they mainly "think" about our health and give us options - to walk more, and whoever wants to, on a scooter! Well, health to them! The directors of the transport companies? Are there any? Has anyone seen them? No one has ever heard of them. Not a word, not a groan, not a position. There is a very important plot here. The coup in the Metropolitan. They removed the expert and professional Stoyan Bratoev, the man with decades of experience, and in his place they installed the convenient new boss of the "Metropolitan" - Eng. Naydenov. And then - what happened? Well, what happened was that we saw absolutely inadequate behavior. When asked by concerned citizens when the huge hole would be fixed after the collapse of the local on Tsarigradsko Shosse during construction related to the metro, Naydenov replied that he thanked the employees for transporting 3 million people in 6 days... And about the hole that has been standing for two months? "I have no responsibility", he said that they would "see the citizens every month" on the topic. So much for the new leadership. Not to mention that the activist of the "non-political" union "Podkrepa" Draga Blagoeva, who stood at a blockade in front of the garages and did not allow drivers to go to work (given that she is an employee of the metro, and it was not striking) has been appointed director of the "Bulgaria Blvd." Metro station. A huge responsibility for the lives and health of people. From the position of cashier to director! And this is the beginning. When you replace the “old, sick and inconvenient” with the “new, healthy and convenient” director - there will be holes. And not only in the asphalt, but also in the management. Then we wonder why people don't trust the institutions. Well, that's why - because they are not professionals, but convenient clientelists. Shame and disgrace! And an impending crisis.

- We also see protests by nurses. It seems that salaries are only raised through strikes. Is that how it works...
- I guess so! Yes, that's how it works - without shouting, without protests, it seems that no one hears. Nurses and doctors - the people who save our lives, they treat them like second-hand. And if they want pennies - they go out on the street. Thank you, “clientelists”! There are no nurses. One third are over 65 years old. Hospital after hospital is closing. And at the same time, the municipal councilors are raising their salaries - without an ounce of shame, without an ounce of morality. And they accept this budget. Is this caring for the people? Is this normal? Will we tolerate this?

- GERB-SDS, BSP, ITN are already the majority in the Municipal Council, after “Save Sofia“ withdrew. Is Mayor Terziev's hands “tied“?
- Those from GERB-SDS, BSP and so on have long been the majority for fraud, and “Save Sofia” conveniently, guess in whose interest, withdrew. A strange move by Boris Bonev. I also wonder if the mayor's hands are really tied? Or does he just not want to get his hands dirty in a real battle? The people voted for change. Not for diplomatic condescension with “we can't, it won't work“. Terziev promised that he would cut ties with the clientelist and the old model of governance. We are waiting!

- After the protest of the public transport drivers, museum workers and librarians are also making demands… How far will we get like this?
- And rightly so. It cannot be for some, and not for others. Everyone is right - and medical students, nurses, lawyers... Borisov opened "Pandora's Box". To give money to everyone. And not just to the drivers from the Motor Transport. The chief director of the state organized the protests himself, then "quelled" them himself and emerged as the "hero savior"! Haven't his tricks worn out, or should we wait for a new scenario? This is the GERB model - the same scenario, for years. And until this model is broken, we will stand in the mud. As long as we tolerate - they will trample us. Therefore - be rebellious. We are rebellious and this unites us. Do not reconcile. This is the only way to the future. And to something that we can finally call with pride - good for Bulgaria.