"Save Sofia": These are Radev's priorities? So there is no excuse for him not to accept the reforms we have been proposing for years

After years of political instability, Bulgaria now has a clear horizon for a regular government capable of serving its full term. Expectations for Rumen Radev's new government are not only high, but also extremely clear - after such a victory over other political players, the Bulgarian people want not only to hear about order, the fight against corruption and reforms, but also to see them implemented. The local government in Sofia, which is entering the last year of its mandate, has demonstrated very clearly that when you come with big promises, no one will forgive you if you buy time with compromises or justify yourself with endless analyses of why nothing is happening.
Since its inception, "Save Sofia" has maintained the thesis that the highest priority of the government should be to solve the problems that have proven to block development - problems produced by malicious intent in the National Assembly or outdated methods reproduced by each subsequent minister. From today, in the next four years, Radev will not have the comfort of justifying himself with a lack of majority, and if the Parliament does not dedicate itself to working to clean up the gaps in the law, he will lose whatever legitimacy he has left.
We listened carefully to what priorities the representatives of “Progressive Bulgaria” outlined to President Yotova this week. Therefore, we expect and insist that they use their sole power for clear and concrete reforms:
Uncompromising fight against corruption. If the request is “fight against corruption”, Mr. Radev, the dragon of municipal public procurement has the most heads. Ending the model in which the state serves private interests requires reform of the Public Procurement Act. “Save Sofia” we insist on the introduction of the so-called “black list” since 2015 and have prepared specific proposals. Several consecutive majorities have not found the courage to create it.
Real decentralization. We expect the new government to provide more financial and managerial powers to municipalities - to conduct a real tax policy, to retain part of the income tax collected from their population, with which to finance their infrastructure, to be a truly independent local authority, capable of creating a quality urban environment and functioning municipal services.
Taming overdevelopment. The concrete ghettos of Sofia and the Concrete Seaside are offspring of the Spatial Planning Act. Overdevelopment destroys architectural memory, and the quality of life in our cities is among the lowest in Europe, because of the loopholes left in this law. Our proposals on how to close most of them are also waiting in the National Assembly's registry.
End of the feeder and optimization of the administration. It is high time before the local elections that the number of districts and municipalities in Bulgaria be reduced. Out of 265, over 80 do not meet the requirements to remain such. 24 districts for the Sofia Municipality are absurdly many. The local administration is not a feeder for poslushkovites. The state administration must enter the 21st century - with normal protection of their labor and with adequate processes that reduce the excessive bureaucracy that has turned tens of thousands of civil servants into mailboxes that have been blocking the implementation of regional policy for years.
As always and as with all others so far - we will evaluate this government by its results. In the end, only they matter. Bulgaria does not need another government of survival, but a government that wants us to be a normal European country, and not the neglected backyard of the continent.