site.btaUPDATED Sofia Municipal Council Fails to Elect Chair for Fifth Time

The Sofia Municipal Council remains stuck in an impasse, failing to elect a chairperson after two rounds of voting during its fifth attempt on Monday.

The vote was between the candidate of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria and Save Sofia (CC-DB-Save Sofia), Greti Stefanova, and Plamen Danailov of There Is Such a People. In the first round, the vote was 22-6 for Stefanova and in the second 23-5 for Stefanova. The Sofia Municipal Council has 61 members and to be elected as a chair, a candidate needs to be supported by 31 council members.

Speaking to reporters earlier on Monday, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said that the proposal of CC-DB-Save Sofia was Greti Stefanova to be elected at least as interim chair of the Council so that its members can start solving the most pressing problems in the city.

Anton Hekimyan, a municipal councilor of GERB, said that his party will not back Stefanova’s nomination for chair as Boris Bonev of CC-DB-Save Sofia has already stated that he does not want to form coalition with GERB.

CC-DB-Save Sofia is the largest group in the municipal council and GERB’s is the second largest.

Meanwhile, Terziev appointed Ivan Vassilev Deputy Mayor for Finance and Health. Vassilev will oversee the financial framework and manage health policies in Sofia Municipality.