After a long meeting on Wednesday, the Varna municipal council did not adopt the most important decision that a mayor traditionally proposes – the budget for the year. The vote was postponed until Thursday. Another session is scheduled within a dozen days, indicating that the matter may hang at least until then.
The draft budget is in the amount of BGN 764.2 million. The mayor’s administration released a message that the councilors want to redo it, which would put the bills at risk.
In political terms, the saga is indicative of one thing – the extremely complicated situation in which the PP-DB mayor Blagomir Kotsev “rules”. The formation has only 8 representatives in the 51-member municipal council. In principle, there are agreements with “Citizens’ Alternative”, “Vazrazhdane”, BSP and 1-2 other formations, but they are uncertain. The situation is fertile for arm wringing. And with his sharp reaction after the embarrassment, the mayor showed that even bigger scandals are yet to come. Varna emerged as a very troubled political city; even more so, after two early votes for district mayors are set – it will be interesting.
And Kotsev’s counter was really remarkable. He talks about blackmail, attempts to push “ladybugs” on him, etc. Here’s what he wrote on Facebook:
“Extremely disappointing day for Varna democracy today.
The momentum that we struggle daily to gain, for change in the urban environment and infrastructure, education and culture, was stopped with countless procedural gripes that led to the non-voting of the Varna budget for 2024 in the Municipal Council.
The last procedural maneuver was to cancel the vote for tomorrow because the Speaker announced it at 18:01 today instead of 17:59. It is not clear when the municipal councilors will have a chance to vote again. A new meeting to decide the fate of the money for residents of Varna has not been scheduled.
I regard all this as an attempt by the various formations in the Council to gain time to trade votes against pushing their interests – personnel, economic, political.
The principle by which the members of my team are selected is unambiguous. I am looking for expertise and morality, not “favors”. Filling the administration with party ladybugs is a trick of the former rulers. Not mine.
I categorically state that there will be no unprincipled assemblies in Varna. I am not looking for a majority at any cost. And I don’t give in to blackmail.
Not because I don’t want a stable body to make decisions for the development of Varna, but because I don’t want the people of Varna to become hostages to party whims or narrow economic interests.
Let’s not forget that people from Varna are patient people, but when their goodwill is abused, they are uncompromising towards politicians”.
NEW 20
The latest 20, which came as news shortly before midnight on Wednesday, is that there will be no meeting on Thursday. Another will be called. All this once again highlights the scandals.
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2024-02-21 19:20:59
#Ladybugs #blackmail.. #mayor #Varna #embarrassed
