Sofia Municipal Council

The Sofia Municipal Council (SMC) convened to elect its deputy chairs and members of standing committees, marking a significant development in the city's political landscape.

The Bulgarian "Vazrazhdane" (Revival) party is facing internal turmoil, with recent events shedding light on fundamental divisions within the party beyond mere political disagreements.

The political landscape in Bulgaria witnessed a significant upheaval as the pro-Russian party "Vazrazhdane" (Revival) took decisive action in response to a rift within its ranks. The party announced the expulsion of three deputies from its parliamentary group following their support for Tsvetomir Petrov in the election for the chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council.

In a strategic move, members of the Sofia Municipal Council (SMC) aligned with the GERB and BSP parties have secured leadership positions in key committees, shifting the balance of power within the council.

The "Vazrazhdane" group within the Sofia Municipal Council (SMC) has disintegrated, leaving the pro-Russian party without a cohesive presence in the council.

In a dramatic turn of events, the Sofia Municipal Council has finally reached an agreement on the selection of a chairman after seven previous unsuccessful attempts. The councilors have settled on Tsvetomir Petrov from the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria-Spasi Sofia (WCC-DB-SS) coalition to temporarily fill the position.

Boyko Borissov, the chairman of GERB, has voiced his preference for holding new elections for mayor and municipal council in Sofia, according to his statements to "Dnevnik" in the National Assembly. The ongoing deadlock in the Sofia Municipal Council (SMC) regarding the election of a chairman has prompted Borissov to advocate for fresh elections.

In the latest setback for the Sofia Municipal Council, attempts to elect a chairman have faltered for the seventh time. The run-off vote featured Tsvetomir Petrov from the coalition "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB) - Spasi Sofia," securing 26 votes, while Diana Tonova, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) candidate, trailed with only 9 votes.

Once more, the election of the leader for the Sofia Municipal Council faces a postponement, creating uncertainty about the city's local governance. The decision to delay the vote until January 25 was reached during the Thursday session, with the expectation that ongoing discussions might result in a consensus on who will chair the Municipal Council.

The ongoing gridlock at the Sofia Municipal Council persists, with no successful election of a chairperson after two rounds of voting in its fifth try on Monday.