site.btaCC Chair Vassilev: Waste Collection Situation in Two Sofia Districts Starting to Normalize

Continue the Change (CC) co-leader Assen Vassilev said on the sidelines of Parliament on Wednesday that the situation with waste collection in two Sofia districts is beginning to normalize.

“The solution is for the Sofia Municipality to build its own capacity and have municipal waste collection companies, as is the case elsewhere, this is also much cheaper for citizens,” Vassilev commented.

He added that citizens should not be burdened with double or triple waste fees so that “certain companies can make triple profits,” expressing satisfaction that Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev has declared such practices will not be tolerated.

Vassilev urged the Interior Ministry to identify the perpetrators of the arson attack on garbage trucks belonging to a company that took part in a municipal tender, and called on the Environment Ministry to explain why it revoked the license of another foreign company that had sought to participate in the tender.

Regarding the Wall Street Journal article, Vassilev said it was “an exaggeration” to think that anyone in Bulgaria could influence the outlet’s editorial policy. “The article claims the Bulgarian national interest was traded to lift sanctions on Peevski, this is absolutely unacceptable,” he added.

He also said that a bill submitted last night by Delyan Dobrev (GERB-UDF) and the MRF - New Beginning group bypasses the investment screening mechanism, giving Peevski approval power over the sale of Lukoil.

Vassilev noted that an extraordinary health committee meeting would be held today to adopt legislation supporting young doctors at second reading. He criticized Health Minister Silvi Kirilov’s recent remarks toward them as “scandalous,” adding that “in 15 years, we will desperately need these doctors.”

Commenting on the flooding in Elenite, Vassilev said it must be determined whether officials allowed illegal construction with their signatures. He recalled that the prosecution office had been alerted as early as 2009, had dismissed concerns at the time, and “years later it’s clear there was a problem, people are dying.”