Yordanka Fandakova sworn in as Sofia Mayor

Yordanka Fandakova, who was re-elected in the first round of the elections, was sworn in as Mayor of Sofia yesterday. The ceremony took place during the first formal meeting of the new Sofia Municipal Council (SMC). The Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party has again an absolute majority of 33 out of 61 councillors in the local Parliament. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) managed to get 15 representatives in the SMC, the Blue Coalition – 8, the National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP) and the Ataka party have two councillors each, and the IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement - one.

At its first meeting, SMC members elected, as expected, Andrei Ivanov as Chairman. He occupied the same position during the last term of office of the SMC. Nikolai Stoinev from GERB and Vili Lilkov from Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) are his deputies.

"The elections are over, and it is time to work. I would like to thank all citizens who relied on me for the second time. I believe that everyone in this room is motivated to work for the development of the capital. I will focus on the imposition of strict fiscal discipline, on the implementation of cost reductions and on attracting European funds,” stated Yordanka Fandakova. She added that she will continue to work "for the development of businesses and for the creation of jobs."

Yordanka Fandakova said that she will not appoint a new Deputy Mayor for Culture and Education after the current one - Hristo Angelichin from DSB - became municipal councillor. Fandakova stated that she will fulfil this task in person. A Deputy Mayor for Security will not be appointed either. Before the elections, Ivan Sotirov of the Union of Democratic Forces occupied the post.

Before the election of Andrei Ivanov as Chairman of SMC, the formal session was traditionally led by the oldest councillor – Associate Professor Lilyana Elenkova of GERB. Ivanov received some 34 votes out of the 60 voting councillors and his opponent Georgi Kadiev from BSP - 17 votes. Vladimir Karolev from NMSP proposed three times different councillors from NMSP for the position Chairman of SMC, but all the three persons rejected the offer and, ultimately, Andrei Ivanov was elected.

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