The mayor of the capital's district "Ilinden" Emil Branchevski announced in a video message that he is leaving the coalition "We Continue Change-Democratic Bulgaria-(Save Sofia)" and will continue as an independent district mayor. “Boris Bonev announced a time of separation for the PP-DB-SS coalition. A time of separation is coming right now, because from today I am becoming an independent district mayor. Emil Branchevski is not the mayor of Boris Bonev, nor of the PP-DB-SS, but of the people,“ he stated.
His decision comes a day after the Supreme Administrative Court reinstated him to the post from which he was removed five months ago due to a conflict of interest. We recall that Branchevski was promoted to district mayor from the quota of “Save Sofia“, which is part of the PP-DB-SS coalition.
The mayor of the capital's “Ilinden“ district began his address with the words: “I owe you the truth!“ He apologized to the citizens for the mistakes made, which, according to him, are the result of pressure from “Save Sofia“. "I am guilty because after I was elected mayor, I allowed "Save Sofia", Boris Bonev and Andrey Zografski to dictate how the municipality should work. Since my removal, they have taken full control over the administration of the "Ilinden" district, without implementing any of the procedures I initiated," he said.
Branchevski stressed that he cannot tolerate incompetence and accused "Save Sofia" of failing to fulfill its election promises. "As a surgeon, I am intolerant of incompetence. Therefore, I cannot be part of an organization that justifies its own incompetence by issuing ultimatums that harm citizens," he said.
In his address, the mayor stated that he dissociated himself from the actions of "Save Sofia" in the Sofia Municipal Council, which, according to him, were dictated only by Boris Bonev and Andrey Zografski.
The court decides on the removal of the mayor of “Ilinden”
He promised to work entirely in the interest of the residents of the area and stated that from now on he will be accountable only to them. “My only goal is the development of the area, and my only allies are the people“, concluded Branchevski.
We recall that residents of “Ilinden“ protested against the district mayor several times.