site.btaUPDATED Nearly 100% of Transport Operators Protest, Demand Resignations

Nearly 100% of Bulgaria's transport industry is staging protests on May 10, the Union of International Hauliers said. The transport operators are calling for the resignations of Transport and Communications Minister Nikolay Sabev and Regional Development Minister Grozdan Karadjov due to what they believe to be inadequate policies in the transport sector. The protesters demand the bio-based fuel additive to be scrapped for six months, a 50 per cent cut of the excise duty on fuels for six months, and fair road tolls.

The transport companies say their actions are economically and socially, not politically, motivated and are in support of all Bulgarians.

The companies said in their position: "The price of passenger and freight transport depends on the government's actions. What we are witnessing is inaction, incompetence and a distinct active provocation against the transport industry. The lack of an adequate transport policy has resulted in higher prices for end-customers, bankrupt transport operators and job losses."

The Confederation of Employers and industrialists in Bulgaria issued a declaration of their full support for "the legitimate and just demands" of the protestors.

Suspension of transport services

Protests took place in many parts of the country. In the capital Sofia, the convoy of trucks was held up by police at one of Sofia's southern approaches. The police officers explained that they are following the instructions of the Sofia City Hall. At a news briefing around noon, the protesters said that they "are not coming tomorrow and the day after" but will be back on May 18 "with all their trucks and buses".  "The carriage of passengers and cargo will be suspended on May 18. We stop our operations," said Magdalena Miltenova of the Confederation of Bus Carriers. 

She said that the government violated the Constitution by not allowing the trucks to get into the centre of Sofia to protest. 

Government determined to expand toll system to second-class roads

Against the backdrop of the protests, Regional Development Minister Grozdan Karadjov made it clear that the government is determined to expand the scope of the toll system to include second-class roads. He said during Question Time in Parliament that charging a toll on second-class roads won't have a pro-inflationary effect - which is one of the road carriers' arguments against the toll on such roads. 

He said that the government has figured out that the toll will raise the cost of milk by BGN 0.01 per 8 l / "I don’t think that is a significant effect on inflation," he said. 

He also said: "I believe that crises come and go, and will be here for a while, but it was high time we bring order in the use and maintenance of roads."

Karadjov also said that it has been the World Bank's recommendation throughout that the toll system be expanded to include second- and third-class roads, if this country is to secure the resources it needs for road maintenance.