Protests of taxi drivers will continue, Volodya Domashenko, co-chairman of the National Association for Taxis, told BTA protection of carriers and taxi drivers (NAZPTV). He explained that although the taxi companies were able to negotiate a significantly smaller increase in the compulsory insurance "Civil Liability" with some of the insurers, drivers still find the prices too high.
In an official opinion of the association, it is pointed out that there is definitely a split in the industry. "We believe that it is high time that those who have nothing to do with the costs associated with the operation of taxi services, reconsider their behavior and take the position they deserve – slightly to the left of the center of the events", reads the opinion of NAZPTV.
"Carriers somehow negotiated this reduction in insurance, which is seen in only one company and it is over 50 percent. For my car, I calculated that for last year my insurance was BGN 300, and the new one will be BGN 477. From the beginning of the protests, we all wanted the return of the prices from September with some possible increase of 10-15 percent", commented Domashenko.
He called on citizens to also pay attention to their insurances and join the upcoming protest as, he said, there is also a price increase for their cars. At present, the date on which the drivers will resume effective strike action has not been specified. "There are two options - one is to block the country, as was the case with the first protest, and the other option is for drivers from all over the country to go to Sofia," added the co-chairman of NAZPTV.
The association's official statement also states that, according to the Financial Supervision Commission, the economic indicators of insurance companies for this year have improved compared to the same period in 2023. Their revenues have grown by more than 2 percent and their expenses have decreased by more than 15 percent. This is due to the fact that there is a steady trend towards a reduction in claims under "Civil Liability" by about 10 percent in the last four years.