In Silistra, they are debating whether to have a working group for the chairman of the Municipal Council – From the day

Dimitar Trendafilov, Chairman of the Municipal Council – Silistra

Photo: Nezaravka Kirova

The Municipal Council in Silistra confirmed and re-voted its decision, returned by the Regional Governor, related to the Regulations for the work and organization of the local parliament.

And since this is the third returned decision, and there is one that is contested in the Administrative Court, the question “Are the decisions being returned tendentially, or are there violations of the law when they are made” hangs in the air.

Whether or not there is a working group for the chairman of the Municipal Council to support his activities – this is the bone of contention.

Councilors were adamant today – the task force remains. She has no imputed duties to solve issues, but to advise, commented Dimitar Trendafilov, the first among equals.

“The main task of the working group is for the chairman to prepare a working schedule for the meetings of the working committees. The best result is obtained when all chairmen of standing committees are present”.

The working group includes both the vice-chairmen of the Municipal Council and the chairmen of political groups, with the aim being a better familiarization with the materials submitted by the Municipal Administration and with the complaints and reports of citizens on certain problems, which is actually their duty , attributed to them even with their election as municipal councilors.

But according to regional governor Mincho Yordanov, the creation of a “working group” is something illegal.

“This refers to a decision of the Administrative Court – Silistra, which says that there is no such authority in the Municipal Council, according to the Law on Local Self-Government and Local Administration.

I do not make it clear what the purpose of the so-called “workgroup”.

Does it have a special relation to the work of the Municipal Council in Silistra, given the fact that there are three returned decisions and one challenged in the Administrative Court?

“All returns are for legality”.

And the so-called “working group” is the other name of the “Presidential Councils” known from the past, which were declared outlawed by changes in the regulations. Already two years ago, the then chairman of the local parliament, Dr. Maria Dimitrova, commented that even if we talk about decisions, they are symbolic – approval and arrangement of the agenda, proposals and complaints of citizens.

“Since there is a presidential council in the National Assembly, what is preventing the municipal council as well?!”

Almost like the “working group” in Art. 20 of the new Regulations of the Silistre Municipal Council.