site.btaPolitical Clash over Sofia’s Ongoing Waste Crisis Deepens as More Parties Call for Mayor's Resignation

The political clash over Sofia’s ongoing waste crisis deepened on Tuesday as more parties called for Mayor Vasil Terziev to resign, while he defended his record, urging citizens to manage their own waste responsibly and framing the disruptions within the context of upcoming elections. Also, the City Hall and the Sofia Inspectorate promised to step up efforts to clear mounting garbage in the city’s boroughs.

The waste collection crisis in Sofia began in October 2025, initially affecting Lyulin and Krasno Selo after the city refused to sign new collection contracts over inflated prices, citing a refusal to pay a “protection racket fee” and to yield to “mafia practices.” By December, the disruption had spread to Izgrev, Poduyane, and Slatina, prompting a temporary collection system. Citizens have reported ongoing delays in several boroughs as the city continues to address the backlog.

On Tuesday, MRF – New Beginning intensified pressure on the Mayor, with party leader Delyan Peevski calling for Terziev’s immediate resignation. The party accused the mayor of being solely responsible for the worsening waste situation in the Bulgarian capital. MRF – New Beginning also alerted outgoing Environment and Health ministers and heads of regional inspectorates, urging strict sanctions, the declaration of a state of emergency, and mobilization of state resources to address the “environmental catastrophe and impending health crisis.”

The Socialists' BSP – United Left coalition echoed these demands, stating that Terziev has “proven beyond any doubt” that he cannot perform his duties as mayor. In a statement, the coalition criticized the delayed waste collection tenders and the lack of price caps in public procurement, which they said opened the door to corrupt practices. They also highlighted their longstanding proposal to create a municipal enterprise to handle waste collection and disposal.

MRF - New Beginning and BSP - United Left thus joined ranks with There Is Such a People and Vazrazhdane in putting all blame for the situation on the Mayor and calling for his resignation. 

By contrast, GERB leader Boyko Borissov argued that Mayor Terziev should remain in office to  the end of his term to demonstrate what Continue the Change and Yes, Bulgaria governance looks like. Speaking in a Facebook live broadcast from Stara Zagora, Borissov argued that Terziev’s tenure serves as a cautionary example for voters and called on citizens to see the consequences of their choices.

Mayor Vasil Terziev responded in a Facebook post, framing the crisis within the electoral context and urging citizens to participate actively in elections. He described the situation as a time to clear “political garbage” through voting and civic engagement. Terziev reminded citizens that he had refused to approve a nearly BGN 400 million expense that would have burdened an average four-member family in Lyulin with an annual waste fee of over EUR 500 within a few years. He also encouraged residents to sort waste and avoid placing bulky construction materials in grey containers, framing such actions as a long-term investment in their own finances rather than his personal benefit.

Meanwhile, the Sofia Inspectorate sought to provide a more technical perspective on the crisis. Inspectorate Director Nikolay Nedelkov said at a briefing that additional equipment and trucks had been deployed to the most affected boroughs, including Lyulin, and that the backlog in waste collection should be cleared by the end of January. He also clarified that there is no current need to declare a state of emergency and noted that interim contracts have been signed for several of the city’s waste collection zones, with the aim of increasing transparency on the quantities of garbage being cleared.