Sofia could become a city of world importance –

/ world today news/ “Sofia could have become a city of world importance. There is no European capital where you can get off the plane and after half an hour be able to ski or bathe in warm mineral waters. Instead of turning Sofia into a center of skiing, spa and cultural tourism, the city’s rulers in the last 15 years have simply exploited it,” said the executive director of the Institute for Modern Politics, Petar Kichashki, in the News7 show “One More Thing”.

“Can someone explain to me why Vitosha is left to languish in ruin?” Why not invest in the renovation of lifts, huts, hotels, etc.? Why are huge treasures such as the mineral springs in Bankya, Gorna Banya, Ovcha Kupel and even in the center of Sofia turned into ruins? And one more thing – why do Swiss funds invest in environmental protection in the Bulgarian mountains? Isn’t it to give impetus to some “green” organizations to explain to us how nothing should be touched in the mountains? Excuse me, but there is no problem to build and invest in the Alps, and there is on Vitosha,” he added.

“Do you know why Sofia is investing BGN 700 million for infrastructure projects? It is not far for people to live better. Let’s not be naive. The city government invests a huge resource in infrastructure, because this is how companies close to power are fed and money is diverted. If the same could be done through social activities, Sofia’s budget for social activities would not be 9 million, as it is now, but 700 million. But the money is diverted during construction and that is why Sofia invests in infrastructure like this. To think otherwise is simply naive,” announced Kichashki.

Regarding the waste plant, the executive director of the IMP said that in our country this is a very deep topic, at the base of which there are always corrupt interests. He gave an example of the outdated split collection system. “Everywhere in Western Europe there are modern separate collection facilities – you go, put in your can of energy drink and the machine dispenses pennies. In our country, they released such a thing in the area of ​​the Monument to the Soviet Army, but it is a private initiative, not a municipal policy. At one time I was doing research and I can tell you that I was able to find 11 different ways that the state and municipality collect money for waste, so nobody can really tell you how much money the taxpayer gives to waste management,” he added he.

Kichashki said that the administration of Sofia acts in a piecemeal, facade way and with the aim of clouding the eyes of the voters, rather than actually doing something useful. He gave an example with the reconstruction of the Lion Bridge. “Sofia gave 36 million for the repair of the Lion Bridge and the Women’s Market. And? What happened? This area remains dangerous, unwelcoming and dirty. Because the fact that you put two pieces of asphalt and a guardrail cannot replace an active presence of the local government in the area. Bureaucracy and passing the ball is that the protection of the city is only in the hands of the Ministry of the Interior. Sorry, but Sofia, with her budget, is far from toothless. If they want to make the city cleaner and safer, they have the mechanisms to achieve it,” the IMP representative believes.

When asked why the municipal councilors from the BSP are now active in criticizing the ruling party, Kichashki commented that it is the job of the opposition to criticize the government and in this sense the activity of the municipal councilors from the opposition is completely legitimate.
“There is also something else that I find important. The administration of Sofia invests only where there is interest, and this is obvious. Do you know what the kindergartens in “Obelya” look like, for example? One apartment on the fourth floor. These are the private kindergartens. And there is simply no municipal one, this neighborhood is one of those forgotten by the Sofia municipality,” said Kichashki.