On October 29, we will elect the new local government for the next 4 years, reported a BGNES reporter.
In Sofia, 22 candidates are fighting for the mayoral seat of Yordanka Fandakova, who has led the Sofia municipality for 18 years. Among the main ones are Anton Hekimyan, nominated by GERB-SDS, Vasil Terziev from "We continue the change - Democratic Bulgaria and "Save Sofia", Deyan Nikolov from "Revival" party, Vanya Grigorova from Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and "United Left", Ivaylo Valchev from "There is such a people" party, Vili Lilkov from "Blue Sofia" and Carlos Contrera from VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement (VMRO).
In their programs, they are betting on impact construction, building kindergartens and nurseries, building parking lots, improving the city's infrastructure, modernizing public transport, solving the problems of redevelopment, ending the practice of "repair of repair" and enforcing standards.
However, the candidates have different opinions regarding the expansion of the blue and green zones in the center of Sofia, as well as the construction of more parking lots. GERB-SDS are "for" the creation of buffer and underground parking lots, WCC-DB are supporters of the idea of expanding the blue and green zones, and BSP and "United Left", in the person of Vanya Grigorova, are against most parking zones in Sofia , for which purpose emphasis is given to the improvement of urban transport.
In the second largest city in Bulgaria - Plovdiv, 18 candidates entered the race. The common thing with Sofia is that here, too, GERB-SDS are betting on a new candidate, after it became clear that the current Zdravko Dimitrov will not run. Thus, the people of Plovdiv will choose among the main contenders: Kostadin Dimitrov, nominated by GERB-SDS, Ivaylo Staribratov, nominated by WCC-DB, Angel Georgiev from "Vazrazhdane", Krasimir Asenov from DPS, Kostadin Palazov from BSP and Stanislav Balabanov from ITN.
The candidates are betting on the development of tourism, the completion of key repairs in the city, as well as the construction of projects for the expansion of the leading road sections - Komatevsko and Peshtersko roads, as well as Gladstone Street. The candidates also declare themselves for the development of specific areas in Plovdiv, with Ivaylo Staribratov placing priority on the development of the Central region of the city. Regarding urban transport, Kostadin Dimitrov advocates the purchase of municipal vehicles, which should also be electric.
In our maritime capital - Varna, 10 candidates are fighting for the mayor's seat. In the third largest city in Bulgaria, GERB-SDS is betting on its mayor, Ivan Portnih, who has governed Varna for 10 years. PP-DB appoints its regional coordinator for the Varna region, Blagomir Kotsev; "Vazrazhdane" is represented by People's Representative Kosta Stoyanov, BSP has nominated Pavel Ralichkov, and the smallest party in the 49th National Assembly, "There is such a people" is participating in the mayoral race for Varna with Ivaylo Kostadinov.
In the pre-election program, the candidate mayor of GERB sets as priorities the provision of a sufficient number of nurseries and kindergartens, reforms in the education system, such as the functioning of free schools for the development of the talents of young people, and for this purpose it is envisaged to change the General Development Plan and new city design code. Similar to the vision for Sofia, here again GERB envisages the construction of new parks and the development of inter-block spaces, but also bets on several infrastructure projects, such as the repair of the Asparukh bridge, new flyovers to provide traffic without traffic lights on "Vasil Levski" Blvd. and Blvd. "Eighth Maritime Regiment", as well as the expansion of Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. The WCC-DB candidate Blagomir Kotsev is betting on a financial plan for the phased construction and rehabilitation of sidewalks, roads, underpasses and overpasses; the construction of 7 new parking lots with 3,600 new parking spaces, as well as the creation of a green belt for Varna with parks in all five districts of the city. WCC-DB also envisage digitalization in the services of the Municipality, the construction of a system of underground containers as part of their idea for modern garbage collection, as well as support for local businesses and producers. The main contender, according to sociological surveys, is also the candidate for mayor, Kosta Stoyanov, nominated by "Vazrazhdane". He is betting on the development of culture, tourism and infrastructure in Varna, and according to the stated priorities, Stoyanov offers a comprehensive vision and concept.
In the other large seaside city - Burgas, 12 candidate mayors are fighting for development in the next 4 years. GERB-SDS are again running for Dimitar Nikolov, who has governed Burgas for 16 years; WCC-DB do not have a common candidate, but two people's representatives from the coalition participate in the race, namely Konstantin Bachiyski, who was nominated for the local elections by the "Middle European Class" (SEC) party, and Dimitar Naydenov, who participated as an independent candidate. Other main contenders entering the fray are Stanimir Baev from "BSP for Bulgaria", Todor Angelov from "Revival" party, Stoyan Grozev from "Bulgarian Rise", Todor Ivanov from "There is such a people" party, as well as Zhivko Tabakov from a local coalition "The Left!".
GERB-SDS in the person of Dimitar Nikolov are betting on upgrading what has already been achieved with an emphasis on the development of healthcare, education and infrastructure projects. Konstantin Bachiiski, on the other hand, sets the revival of the economy as his main goal, by attracting investors and improving the infrastructure so that road connectivity is available. His partner in the national government, Dimitar Nikolov, sets similar goals. The independent candidate will work to attract investment, create well-paid jobs, build and improve infrastructure, and establish strict control over municipal spending.
The election campaign is about to end. The election is on Sunday, and where no candidate is elected with more than 50% of the valid votes cast in the first round, there will be a second round on November 5.
Sociological forecasts are for run-offs in the big cities. "Mediana" agency predicts for Sofia that, without a doubt, the new mayor will become clear from the second time. The most likely pairings are three: Terziev vs. Grigorova; Terziev vs. Hekimyan; Grigorova vs. Hekimyan. In practice, all three hypothetical runoffs played by Mediana ended with the same result, 50:50.
According to "Alpha Research", in the battle for Sofia, the intrigue is for the second place - less than a percent difference. An express survey in the last week of the campaign predicted: Vasil Terziev, WCC-DB and "Save Sofia" - 29.8%; Anton Hekimyan, GERB-SDS - 21.1%; Vanya Grigorova, BSP - 20.2%; Deyan Nikolov, "Revival" - 10.2%; Vili Lilkov, Conservative Union of the Right coalition - 8.3%.
For the first time on October 29, voters will be able to cast their vote in local elections by machine. In Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv, outside the town halls in Sofia, voting will be done with three ballots, one of which will be for the mayor of a district, and in the remaining cases, voting will be done with two ballots - for the mayor of a municipality and municipal councilors. /BGNES
