6840 | 14 Oct. 2025 | 08:57

However, the two years since the mayor's administration took office, we cannot show any impressive results, she pointed out

 The trash crisis could spread across Sofia as the contracts for all 18 districts are expiring in one to two months. So far, there seem to be no prospects for a solution and the problem is getting deeper.

 These were the comments of Meglena Plugchieva, former deputy prime minister for European funds, member of parliament in three consecutive terms, and deputy minister of agriculture and forests, as well as former ambassador to Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Montenegro, on the radio show "Bulgaria, Europe and the World in Focus" on Radio Focus.

 Fifteen years ago, during the major trash crisis in Sofia, Plugchieva had just taken on the role of deputy prime minister.

 "I assumed that this was why I was invited here - to share my experience. I hope it will be useful not only for those who have to make decisions, but also for the citizens of Sofia." It is true that it was 2008-2009 and at that time the whole of Sofia was drowning in garbage, in waste. Things were very serious and even I, as Deputy Prime Minister and former ambassador to Germany, had requested assistance from Germany. We had even received offers to have the piles of garbage, which were growing like mountains on the streets in Kremikovtzi, transported by train and burned in furnaces in Germany. Thank God we didn't have to resort to that, but it was a crisis situation and in such situations one always seeks comprehensive cooperation and a comprehensive solution, regardless of the political party one belongs to," said Meglena Plugchieva.

 She sent an important message to the leadership of the Sofia Municipality.

  "I believe that this is an important message to today's authorities, especially to the leadership of the Sofia Municipality and to Mayor Terziev.

 In addition, I would like to give one more example, based on my many years of managerial and political experience. It was precisely when I took on the position of Deputy Prime Minister for the first time that this role was created, because over 500 million euros of funding had been stopped and it was necessary to find a way out of this crisis situation." As vice-premier, naturally my first visit was to Brussels and the first piece of news I received, which was de facto the worst I could get as information, was that we were losing over 300 million for the waste plant, because the government of Sergey Stanishev can't find a dialogue with the municipality, where the mayor was Boyko Borisov, and that this is a game of political brinkmanship and in no way can a solution be reached, and because of this we will lose the funds. I admit, upon my return, I asked for a small delay there, and as soon as I returned, the first thing I did was to go to the municipality with projects to meet with Borisov. This was a sensation at the time, that a vice-premier from BSP was going to the feet of Borisov from GERB," she said.

 Meglena Plugchieva also mentioned what happened afterwards. 
 

 "Of course, this did not go without consequences in the government, as I received severe criticism, but the important thing was that a solution was found and the factory was built, and it is now operating. Now, what needs to be done additionally, repairs or adaptations, or changes, that is another question. But my thought is, going back to the topic, that in crisis situations, when we're talking about a city of millions like Sofia, it is crucial for the interest of the people to be put first. And I am surprised by the reaction of Mayor Terziev, rejecting any kind of help, and furthermore, he has damaged relationships with his own partners in the coalition." I remember when Mr. Bonev took office, he announced that there were three of the hottest and most problematic and risky topics in Sofia:

 Transportation, Waste and "Sofia Heating". Instead of taking them into account and responding in a timely manner, which would mean not waiting for the first mistake, not waiting only a few days before the contracts expire, then announcing a public procurement. This is a lack of absolute transparency and it shows a lack of management experience and foresight. Second, in the conditions of a public procurement, ceiling prices cannot be set, only projected ones. There is a difference. And accordingly, a series of management mistakes have led to this situation where several key neighborhoods in Sofia are drowning in waste. Not only that, but citizens should also go out and clean themselves and bring their own bags of waste in their cars during the danger of infection, from diseases from one area to another, and let alone that this is attributed as heroism to the mayor, and he should play the role of both victim and hero. These are absurd situations for the 21st century. This shows, unfortunately, only a lack of competence, lack of managerial experience and vision, because a mayor of a million city should always look at least two steps ahead and have alternative solutions in case of a crisis", added the deputy prime minister for European funds.

 Meglena Plugchieva also mentioned what worries her. "

 "Last night I listened to Mr. Terziev on bTV and what worried me the most was his arrogance and overconfidence as he spoke, disregarding any self-criticism and acknowledging the serious mistakes that have been made, which the citizens of Sofia are now suffering the consequences of. Citizens should be outraged and not participate in such actions. If Mr. Terziev wants to leave a legacy as the leader of 'Terziev's Saturdays', that's his choice, but let's be serious and responsible.

 There needs to be clarity now, not just empty promises that a solution will be reached by Wednesday, but a clear plan on how it will be reached - will it be through direct negotiations or discussions, which companies will be involved, what aid has the government offered and why is it not being accepted." Overall, all of this, the citizens of Sofia, we all need to know what is happening, to have enough transparency, so that after only one or two months, Sofia does not get covered in garbage and, God forbid, buried in snow.

 But the two years under the leadership of Mr. Vasil Terziev, unfortunately, we cannot show any impressive results, on the contrary, we are left with the bitterness of the absolutely absurd parking spaces on "Vitosha" Blvd., the cut down trees on "Opalchenska" and the unnecessary repairs. Not to mention that after the storm that passed before winter, the branches were left to rot in place and many other things, not to mention the neighborhoods, such as "Manastirski livadi", where there is an abundance of garbage and a chaotic street situation in such a new and prestigious district," she said.

 Plugchieva clarified how the cleaning of Sofia was only done by external companies, without the intervention of the municipality.

 "If we have to go back in history, as I am one of those political dinosaurs who have been in politics since the beginning of the Transition, we must admit that this wrong policy of everything being privatized came as an obligation from Brussels. This was back in the early 90s, when they said: water supply, garbage collection, and electrification, everything had to go into private hands.

 And privatization was declared as a holy grail in everything." After years, once again from Brussels, the European Commission admits that activities that are socially significant, such as water supply, efficient use of resources, waste collection and disposal, as well as electricity or anything related to energy supply, are extremely sensitive and socially significant topics and it is only right for them to remain under the control of the municipality, in municipal companies and enterprises, in order to have public control. And respectively, in case of emergencies, there must be a quick reaction, because you cannot command the private business, you cannot be angry at the private business for seeking its profit and not putting the public interest first", stated Meglena Plugchieva.