site.btaGERB Leader Borissov Finds Allegations Putting His Party Behind Sofia Surface Transport Strike "Absurd"

GERB leader Boyko Borissov described as "absurd" the claims that GERB was behind the protest of the surface transport employees in Sofia. "Where is my fault that nothing has happened in Sofia for two years," he told journalists in the National Assembly on Friday.

His words came as a response to a statement made by Democrats for Strong Bulgaria Chair Atanas Atanassov: "GERB are taking revenge for losing the elections in Sofia and are systematically engaged in sabotaging the work of the Sofia Municipality. They are seeking revenge in every way."

"For two years we have been hearing only excuses. Every morning I walk along Europe boulevard and watch Opaltchenska street. It was hell this morning and he [the Mayor] is punishing all of us," Borissov said. He argued the Sofia Municipality has the money to provide the protesters' demands and "has BGN 600 million in its account. "I suffer like all of you with my election and my vote for [Sofia Mayor Vassil] Terziev," Borissov said, adding that Bulgarians should "learn to think when we vote."

"He has nothing else to do," Borissov said when asked about President Rumen Radev's Thursday partial veto on the bill amending and supplementing the Energy from Renewable Sources Act.

"To date we have BGN 568 million to give to BOTAS," Borissov said. "We have paid BGN 303 million so far. Invoices that we have stopped paying but have to pay are BGN 265 million," he said.

He put part of the blame for the contract on the journalists: "When this contract was signed, if you had been active and had asked these questions, today we would not be faced with the fact that we have to...." after which he was interrupted with the question, "If we had been active, the contract would not have been signed?" to which Borissov replied that it would not have been signed. Asked why GERB had not been active, Borissov replied "because we did not know".

On Thursday, the Parliament held a hearing on the agreements signed with the Turkish company BOTAS. The people elected him, Borissov said when asked if he would initiate the impeachment of President Radev.