site.btaCC-DB Demands Resignation of Water Holding Official over Price Hike

Lawmakers from Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) called on Friday for the resignation of the head of Bulgaria's state-owned Water and Sewerage Holding, citing rising water prices and alleged conflicts of interest at the highest levels of management.

The demand was voiced by Bozhidar Bozhanov, Deputy Floor Leader of the CC-DB parliamentary group. Speaking to journalists, he said that the executive member of the Water Holding's Management Board, Irena Georgieva-Deneva, is wife of Denyo Denev, who currently serves as acting chair of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security (SANS). According to Bozhanov, such concentration of influence over both water infrastructure and national security raises serious concerns about governance and accountability. "It is wrong to put in the hands of a family the control over both water supply and national security. It is a huge tool in the of people who in the past and present have catered to the wishes of Delyan Peevski," he said, referring to the leader of MRF - New Beginning.

Bozhanov rejected claims that the caretaker government is responsible for the water price hikes, arguing that responsibility lies with the Water Holding, water utilities, the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), and previous regular governments that approved the current pricing framework. He explained that water prices are set by individual water companies, while maximum thresholds are determined by the regulator.

Responding to comments that Georgieva-Deneva is not chair of the supervisory board, Bozhanov stressed that her role as executive member of the Management Board effectively makes her the operational head of the company.

The issue of an impending water price hike came to light on February 26 when CC-DB and representatives of the previously ruling coalition traded barbs over the matter.

Separately, CC-DB lawmaker Yordan Ivanov called on the newly appointed chair of the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) to make public all contracts, payments, and indexations concluded by the agency.

The Chair of the RIA Board, Yordan Valchev, was removed by an order of the Regional Development Minister, as announced by the Ministry. His office is now taken by Stoyan Nikolov on an acting basis.