Democracy and local authorities on the Bulgarian model

Looking through Facebook groups where local elections are commented, I came across a similar question to mayoral candidates: ,,Should the mayor do the bidding of the municipal party leader or will his actions be in the interest of the residents of the municipality?”(I post it unedited). Why does local democracy in Bulgaria often stagnate? Of course, the reasons may be different.

First of all, if the mayor does the bidding of the municipal leader, this par excellence is the same as before the changes. Only then the party leader was called the city secretary of the party. Then there were town halls, but actually the decisions came down from the secretary of the local party organisation. For the younger ones, there was only one party then (the BCP). But that was the lesser evil.

Looking through Facebook groups where local elections are commented, I came across a similar question to mayoral candidates: ,,Should the mayor do the bidding of the municipal party leader or will his actions be in the interest of the residents of the municipality?”(I post it unedited). Why does local democracy in Bulgaria often stagnate? Of course, the reasons may be different.

First of all, if the mayor does the bidding of the municipal leader, this par excellence is the same as before the changes. Only then the party leader was called the city secretary of the party. Then there were town halls, but actually the decisions came down from the secretary of the local party organisation. For the younger ones, there was only one party then (the BCP). But that was the lesser evil.

Secondly, there is the question – why party leaders in municipalities do not run for mayor but prefer to stand as grey cardinals, most often in the image of municipal councillors.This way it is more profitable for them – they decide and are not responsible for their decisions.Because the responsibility lies with the mayor. It, the responsibility, is rewarded or sanctioned every four years. That is, you are in charge, but if you make a mistake, you get out of the situation dry.Someone else takes it, and you can continue to lead the party wisely.This is another bungling of democracy.The normal practice is for the local leader to seek the executive so that he has the opportunity to “translate his ideas into action” (for those who have forgotten – it was a very famous slogan before the changes).

Very often at grassroots level political life is absent altogether, except for a month or two around elections. Then the parties’ headquarters remember that they need people for the lists. They start looking for and inviting locals, which in practice is almost an appointment. And when you are appointed, you do the tasks of the person who appointed you. When these connections are made quickly in the course of the campaign, they both quickly break down after the election. Evidence – the elected mayor leaves the parent party and starts running for mayor, maneuvering between the other players in the local parliament. This is the third element of the principles of democracy that is being violated.

We also come to the conclusion that our democracy is slipping because we have not actually changed the scheme.Political processes continue to go from the top down.In order to have a properly functioning democracy in the municipalities, the political process must go from the bottom up.A party organisation has to be set up, a leader has to be elected who will responsibly lead the party to success in the local elections.And so, if it succeeds, it moves on, if not – it resigns and gives another a chance.As long as local party leaders continue to be musty old men whose sole purpose of staying in party power is personal gain, we have only paid lip service to democracy.

Because if we had real democracy on the ground, and not quasi democracy, the citizen’s question would be: ‘Should the mayor carry out the wishes of big business, or will his actions be in the interests of the residents of the municipality?’You would say – and this is valid for the management of the municipality. And you would not be far from the truth.However, the only way for the mayor to work for the citizens and not listen to the whispers of the party leader or businessmen is called active civil society.And it can only exist when there is democracy.