Municipalities in Bulgaria need freedom and equality, Vice President Iliana Iotova said at the 38th General Assembly of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) here on Wednesday.
"Your voice is the voice of Bulgaria from one end to the other," she emphasized, adding that the event is the best and most reliable picture of the situation in Bulgaria. Iotova wished the municipalities to remain united, as there are many politicians and institutions who are tempted to divide and oppose, while they are chasing party or political dividends. She called such behaviour cynical, as inciting some municipalities against others only fuels the fire of division. According to her, this leads to people's aversion to elections and decreasing trust in all institutions, including local government.
Iotova raised the topic of decentralization, which, she pointed out, is also part of the greater topic of freedom, adding that the goal is for poorer and smaller municipalities not to be disadvantaged. She stated that municipalities need equality, because one of the biggest problems of Bulgarian municipalities today is the lack of justice, especially in the distribution of public finances. Strengthening decentralization will eliminate dependencies, make local governments and their work more visible, which will lead people to truly believe and know that they have not been deceived, Iotova said. She pointed out that municipalities have become an oasis of stability and resilience in a country that is otherwise "on life-support systems."
She noted that the General Assembly of NAMRB coincides with the first plenary budget discussion in the National Assembly. "A clear vision and a clear plan for the funds from the state budget that will go to the municipalities are needed," she pointed out, adding that this is a question of a clearly outlined programme for regional development and a conversation about policies, not just about numbers.
The Vice President said that there is a need for clear guarantees that entering the eurozone will not be at the expense of the municipalities. "Our representatives in the National Assembly must maintain this position. She expressed concern that there are pitfalls that may affect the interests of local authorities.
Iotova noted that there is often a lack of coordination between national and local institutions, and the blame cannot be sought solely in the municipalities. "Responsibilities that others should fulfil are often transferred, as it is easier to assign them to the municipal council or the mayor and save yourself from entering into conflicts," she said.
She stated that the voice of Bulgarian municipalities should be decisive when foreign policy decisions are made, for example, when the fate of cohesion policy is determined at the European level, adding that the government should ask municipalities about their position on the European Commission's plan to move funds for cohesion policy to the Defence budget.
Vice President Iliana Iotova at the 38th General Assembly of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) in Sofia, March 5, 2025 (BTA Photo/Hristo Kasabov)
/DT/
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