"We are opening a new page in the management of Varna," said today the mayor of the city, Blagomir Kotsev. Before entering the municipality building, he made a statement to the media, in which he emphasized that he will reconsider a significant part of the policies so far and the way in which the dialogue in the local administration is carried out, because according to him, in the last two years, it has not been good enough.
Kotsev recalled that the disputes with a large part of the other political forces continue in the Municipal Council, which, according to him, should not be maintained in their current form. "I call on everyone to normal dialogue, so that Varna can move forward smoothly and find common solutions, and not seek differences among ourselves," said the mayor. He assured that he will seek agreement with the municipal councilors and with the majority in the local parliament, so that the Municipal Council can function normally.
The mayor added that he intends to review his own team. According to him, there will certainly be changes in its composition, but before that he wants to find out who did what in the administration during his absence.
Regarding the charity campaign, within the framework of which 200,000 leva were collected to pay the cash guarantee for his release from custody, Kotsev stated that it is an expression of the people's true solidarity against the injustice they see in the country. The funds were collected in a fund, and after the end of the case, the amount will be returned and then he will decide how to deal with it, explained the mayor. He emphasized that he appreciates the fact that people have supported not so much him personally, but their choice for the management of the city and their desire for change and justice.
Kotsev also commented on the signals sent to various institutions against the campaign to raise funds for his guarantee, pointing out that he was not surprised at all. According to him, all kinds of tools are used to discredit the free citizens of Varna, the administration and everyone who fights against the injustice that is observed in the country. He specified that the signals against the donation campaign were sent by one of the witnesses, which the prosecution uses as a tool.
The mayor was categorical that after the end of the court proceedings against him, he will file lawsuits for bribery and perjury against everyone who, according to him, is involved in a conspiracy.
Regarding the protests scheduled for today against the government and the draft state budget, Kotsev stated that he supports them, as according to him, the budget is unfair, and the ruling authorities are not making the necessary changes. "People should not be afraid, but should defend their rights and the principles of democracy," was his position. He added that despite the often expressed opinion that Bulgarians don't care and everyone is only interested in themselves, this is not true, especially when a turning point is reached and when the authorities cross the line with their excessive self-forgetfulness and abuse of power.
According to him, anyone who thinks that nothing depends on him is wrong.
Kotsev also revealed that he has received an invitation to join another political force, which can rather be interpreted as a threat. He refused to go into details, but added that "it depends on whether the question of who made the offers is written with a small or a capital letter".