A dispute has erupted between the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, and Delian Peevski, leader of the DPS party, over a proposal to transfer state-owned buildings and land to the city for public use. The move, which includes properties like the former Notariat building, the former headquarters of the SDS party, and Vrana Park, aims to address municipal needs such as building new kindergartens and providing administrative space.
Approximately twenty state properties, currently vacant, are under consideration for transfer to the Sofia municipality. Proposals from Terziev and city councilors, totaling six reports, are scheduled to be reviewed at a meeting of the Sofia City Council on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
DPS Seeks Moratorium
In response, Delian Peevski, who is sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act for corruption, announced on his party’s Facebook page that “DPS Novo Nachalo” (DPS New Beginning) will propose a moratorium on the transfer of state properties from the caretaker government to the Sofia municipality.
“Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev and the municipal councilors from PP-DB-SS have prepared a scheme to acquire state properties in Sofia. This involves more than 20 attractive properties in expensive and desirable neighborhoods, totaling over 1300 decares – more than one square kilometer of state land in Sofia! And they want them to be gifted to them by their party colleagues in the caretaker cabinet,” a statement released by the party and attributed to Peevski reads.
Peevski argued that the plan to transfer Vrana Park, the former Notariat building on Patriarch Evtimii Boulevard, the building on Rakovska Street 134, and several other plots, demonstrates “an insatiable appetite for property schemes.”
“The moratorium will curb the appetites for plundering valuable state resources and protect the interests of the people,” the DPS stated.
Peevski believes that decisions regarding such state properties should be made transparently by a regular cabinet.
“According to the Constitution, the caretaker cabinet has one main political responsibility and obligation – to ensure conditions for holding fair elections, and since its appointment two weeks ago – the ‘Yotov-Soros-Petrohan’ cabinet has been acting as a strike force – with revenge and mass layoffs in all state structures,” the DPS statement also alleges.
Mayor: “A Greedy Hen Dreams of Millet”
Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev quickly responded to Peevski’s claims.
“A greedy hen dreams of millet. How can the Sofia Municipality be asked to request properties for kindergartens, parks, and culture? That’s what we want for Sofia, instead of vacant and dilapidated buildings. Unacceptable?” Terziev rhetorically asked on his Facebook page.
“It’s normal for Dido Falita, who has been involved in schemes his whole life, to spot schemes everywhere, due to the fact that he knows nothing else. His drama is probably that he won’t be able to build shops in those properties. Who knows?” the mayor wrote, referring to Peevski.
Terziev reminded the public that his reports and similar proposals from city councilors, including those related to acquiring properties for public needs, will be reviewed at Thursday’s Sofia City Council meeting.
“I will be watching with interest which city councilors will vote ‘for’ giving Sofia a chance to acquire these properties for kindergartens, parks, and culture today. That’s what’s important for Sofia, not the statements of people who have nothing to do with the city’s administration,” Terziev commented.
GERB Will Support the Mayor’s Request
GERB will support Mayor Terziev’s request for the state to transfer certain state properties to the municipality free of charge at the Sofia City Council, party leader Boyko Borissov wrote on Facebook. He stated they will do so because they are a consistent party and previous GERB governments have also transferred properties to municipalities.
GERB stated they will closely monitor the properties to ensure they do not become skyscrapers or are misappropriated.
Borissov also pointed out that when the “Zhelyazkov” cabinet proposed a similar measure for properties no longer needed, “Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria” accused them of intending to steal the properties.
“Once again, we will vote on this item because We see in the interest of Sofia, and these properties can become parks, sports halls, public buildings, etc.,” Borissov added.
