site.btaVarna Mayor Says New Chapter Opens in City's Governance

Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, who returned to his office on Monday, said a new chapter was opening in the city's governance. Before entering City Hall, he told reporters that he would rethink much of the city's policy and the way dialogue is conducted in the Municipal Council, acknowledging that it had not been good enough in the past two years.

Kotsev was released on BGN 200,000 bail on November 27, having been held in custody in Varna and Sofia since his arrest on July 8 in a corruption and office abuse case. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Kotsev noted that debates with several other parties in the Municipal Council had been unnecessarily confrontational. "I call on everyone to engage in normal dialogue so that Varna can move forward smoothly and we can find common solutions rather than focus on our differences," he said. He will seek consensus with the Municipal Council and its majority to ensure the municipality functions effectively.

The mayor also said he would review his team, noting that changes will be made once he has assessed staff performance during his absence.

Regarding the fundraising campaign that secured BGN 200,000 to cover his bail, Kotsev said it demonstrated the genuine solidarity of citizens against the injustices they see. The funds were collected by a foundation and will be returned to it once the case concludes, allowing the foundation to decide how to proceed, the mayor added. He stressed that he values people's support not so much for him personally, but for their chosen governance of the city and their desire for change and justice.

Kotsev commented on alerts submitted to various institutions regarding the fundraising campaign that covered his bail, saying he was not surprised. "All kinds of instruments are being used to discredit the free citizens of Varna, the administration, everyone who is fighting against injustice," he said. He added that the complaints concerning the donation campaign had been filed by "one of the witnesses whom the prosecution was using as a tool". The mayor is adamant that once the legal proceedings against him are brought to a close, he will pursue lawsuits for false accusation and perjury.

Commenting on protests planned for Monday evening against the government and its budget proposal for 2026, Kotsev expressed support, describing the budget as unfair and criticizing the authorities for failing to implement necessary reforms. "People should not be afraid; they must defend their rights and the principles of democracy," he said. He added that Bulgarians do care about public affairs, particularly when authorities abuse their power. "Anyone who thinks that nothing depends on them is mistaken," Kotsev said.

The mayor also said he had received invitations to join another political party, which could more accurately be interpreted as veiled threats. He declined to be more specific.

Kotsev's Continue the Change party insist that his arrest is part of a government campaign targeting the opposition. Large-scale protests in his support have been staged in Varna, Sofia and other major cities. The Renew Europe group in the European Parliament where Continue the Change is affiliated, sees Kotsev's extended detention as "an onslaught on democratic institutions and rule of law in Bulgaria".