The municipality in Bulgaria's second largest city of Plovdiv received the right to manage the Antique Theater in Old Town.

The decision was made by the cabinet, during its regular Wednesday meeting, which was held in Plovdiv.

In addition, the City Hall will manage the "Plovdiv" stadium, the "Chayka" (Sea Gull) gym, and the nearby tennis court.

The move came a month after Ivan Totev, former Regional Governor, who ran on the ballot of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, in a tight race against incumbent nationalist, Slavcho Atanasov, was elected Mayor of the city.

The City Hall had presented a new concept for the development of the historical Old Town with the Antique Theater, a top Bulgarian landmark. It will manage the sites for the next 10 years, which will allow it to apply for EU and other financing.

The move further resolves the long-standing dispute between the City Hall and the regional administration on the ownership of the Antique Theater, which made its management problematic.

In addition, the cabinet announced it will provide to the City Hall in the next 2 years another BGN 15 M from the State budget for finishing the construction a multi-use sports facility – a sports hall and covered racetrack which were started with funds from the local Cycling Association.

It was reported meanwhile that the members of the cabinet were met with boos and hissing by Plovdiv residents, protesting against the retirement reform which includes a gradual increase of retirement age by four months a year, effective January 1, 2012.

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