“I see no doubt that I should reject. By the time I have been acting as Director of News, Current Affairs and Sport and by the time I have accepted the application, our relationship with bTV has ended very quickly.’
This is what the GERB-SDS candidate for mayor of Sofia, Anton Hekimyan, said in the “Face to Face” program.
“bTV has been my second home. While I have worked as a reporter, presenter and manager, I have worked with the clear thought that I do not want reputational damage in any way. I have always worked to protect the good name of television,” he pointed out.
“To feel at home, you have to be accepted as one of their own. I’m glad that for a week and a half together with the team that works for Sofia, I saw in people’s eyes a zest for victory. I also saw their acceptance. In my person they will have a defender of their work. There is no reason to lie to ourselves – the work for Sofia has been subject to criticism for a long time, often well-founded. It cannot be denied that a lot was done for Sofia,” commented the candidate for mayor from GERB-SDS.
“I am nominated. Mr. Borisov can most correctly and accurately answer the question about the structures. I don’t want to get into the details of kitchens. The names of other journalists were also among the structures’ nominations. I’m not a party member, I’m not considering that.”
“Other journalists who have received support from the structures means one thing – people in the party see in people like us, who are engaged in public activities, individuals who can do work for the city. This is very important,” commented Hekimyan.
“The period after the proposal was short. It’s not thought through for weeks or months. The time in which I had to make a decision was very short. I wanted to do it because I wanted to work for Sofia – the place where I have built my life and career. There are times in one’s life when a decision must be made and responsibility must be taken. The stake of this campaign is high – the stake is not to pull the handbrake and not to develop the city. There are people and parties who have crossed out projects related to the metro for 200 million BGN from the budget of Sofia, they have crossed out projects for Sofia’s water supply system”.
“I have been traveling around the country in these months and as a journalist people have come to me and said – what happened, there should have been a different policy and a new morality? Do you know how many people are disappointed? There is no new morality, there are ethics and principles that must be followed,” he pointed out.
“The program that is being worked on in the Capital Municipality, and this week and a half I have been telling people during our meetings, is a program that has been set, is being worked on and continues to be worked on. The work for Sofia must not stop. There were several attempts to “pull the parking brake”. We do not want the work for Sofia to stop. This can happen if our voters give us a vote of confidence. They can make their judgment about what has been done for Sofia and what has not. Walk around Sofia, around the neighborhoods and see what has been done and built.”
“When every single renovation starts, we will want in this renovation from the beginning to the end, that there are standards and that they are respected,” emphasized Hekimyan.
The renovation of Shishman Street
“Refurbishing has become a hit, but when the standards come in, it will also mean the end of ‘refurbishing renovations’.” Yordanka Fandakova is still the mayor of Sofia. The case of the street in question is brought up more than once. I believe that with the team behind me, such cases can be avoided. There are certainly flaws. If we look at each tile, we might see something we don’t like. Let’s look at the big picture.”
Extension of the concession of “Sofia Voda”
“The cases are sufficiently clear and definite that this signature can be placed and implementation can proceed. The cases have shown what should be done, yes I will sign,” he commented.
Garbage collection and street cleanliness
“Many things can be done with cleanliness. Our ideas are related to improving cleanliness and the way Sofians perceive it. If we follow the standards and know what a trash can should look like, when it should be cleaned, all these questions will disappear.”
“I will rely on the people of Sofia to trust the team behind me. We will do everything possible, if the procedures are followed and we receive a guarantee that Sofia will be cleaned even better, this contract will be signed.”
“The case with the waste plant is closed. Remember the garbage bales? I was there during the bale scandals and now we know there is a forest there. Our job is to continue the activities started,” he explained.
The sewage system of Sofia
“It’s easiest to make deadlines and promises in advance and then not keep them. In Dragalevtsi, this repair with the sewage system is underway. The money that was withdrawn from Sofia’s budget so that the sewerage does not happen in the northern parts, we will find the means to make it happen. We are not committed to a deadline, but in the next term this is a real problem that can be solved.”
“I don’t want to say again that I am the biggest critic. Colleagues from all media are focused on Sofia’s problems. They have been covered for years and shown on air. I want to walk on good sidewalks. I don’t want my shoes to be muddy when I walk on the sidewalk,” added Anton Hekimyan.
“Heating Sofia”
“It is important to have energy independence in the capital. Renovation and modernization of the capacities of “Toplofikatsia Sofia” can happen. Its infrastructure must remain municipal or state, and privatization must not take place. We will also count on help from the state,” said the candidate for mayor.
2023-10-05 15:10:56
#Anton #Hekimyan #nomination #GERB #dont #doubt #reject
