Bulgaria New PM Steps Down as Sofia Mayor, Finance Deputy Takes Over

Minko Gerdzhikov, Sofia deputy mayor in charge of financial affairs, was elected acting mayor of the capital by the city council on July 29.

Sofia's outgoing Mayor, Boyko Borisov, came into office as the next Prime Minister of Bulgaria earlier this week after his party GERB won the elections on July 5.

Under local legislation the two positions are not compatible and Borisov term as mayor was automatically discontinued after swearing in as prime minister.

Minko Gerdzhikov will serve as Sofia mayor until the new local elections in October.

"The most important thing is that we keep the momentum that Boyko Borisov created," Gerdzhikov said after the vote.

"By the end of the year we are due to unveil another eight kindergartens, eight playgrounds and give the go-ahead to the section from Sofia underground that will connect Mladost 1 to Lyulin districts."

During his term Gerdzhikov also plans to invite a tender for the construction of a garbage processing plant and pick the companies which will collect the waste in the capital, solving two of the most urgent problems that the capital faces.

Gerdzhikov gave an indication that he will not run for mayor in the upcoming local elections in Sofia.

"I believe I have the expertise to serve as deputy finance mayor and hope that I will be of help to the next mayor as well," he said.

Minko Gerdzhikov ran in the by-elections for Sofia mayor in 2005 after being nominated by a dozen rightist factions. He saw the support of 4.79% of the voters.

His term as acting mayor prior to these election will be remembered with his attempts to solve the capital garbage crisis and the so called illegal gypsy ghettos dilemma.