Varna Braces for Vote As Its 'Black Sea Capital' Image Is Being Challenged

File photo, BGNES

Ahead of local elections Bulgaria is to hold on Sunday, Novinite is offering short summaries about key candidates in the country's five biggest cities. These are Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, and Veliko Tarnovo.

Far from being an "extended ballot" - i.e. a full list of candidates with acclarations - each one is a selection of several candidates - either those who belong to one of the biggest parties or whose bid can easily be singled out for something in particular.

The mayor's office in Varna, the third-largest city in Bulgaria, will be a particularly contested one. In a region where allegations have been hurled for years about politicians' connections to certain business circles, people are becoming increasingly disgruntled with sluggish economic growth and a growing income gap with Burgas, another Black Sea city located about 90 km to the south. The current administration says problems were "inherited" from predecessors and their purportedly murky business ties. Rival retort that the incumbent and his team are no different.

Summaries about the candidates and their respective promises are arranged in random order.

Danail Papazov (Life for Varna Coalition)

Papazov was CEO at Port of Varna between 2001 and 2013. Between May 2013 and July 2014, he was Transport Minister in the socialist-liberal government of Plamen Oresharski.

Drawing investment (particularly into the development of e-services) to retain young people, using energy efficiency to boost food production, and several infrastructure projects - these are the three basic priorities he has repeatedly pointed out.

On tourism in Varna, he believes it should be up to businesses to decide who is most...

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