Toma Belev, co-chairman of the Green Movement and leader of the candidate list in the 24th district of Sofia, participated in an interview on Asen Genov's online show "Kontrakomentar."
Belev discussed issues related to the malfunctioning prosecution system, stating, "A non-functioning prosecution leads to the normalization of law-breaking in Bulgarian society, making people think, 'If nothing happened to him, I can do the same.' This corrupts society, and there's no going back unless we say, 'Enough, this can't continue.'"
He also commented on the broader societal issues, blaming certain political groups, particularly from the DPS (Movement for Rights and Freedoms), for investing heavily in media that perpetuate the belief that "everyone is corrupt," leading to voter apathy.
As a forester and former director of Vitosha Nature Park, Belev addressed the controversy surrounding the shutdown of the Simeonovo lift: "The problem with the Simeonovo lift is that the owner doesn't want to invest. Claims that the cabins can't be replaced and that everything needs to be rebuilt are just bedtime stories. The municipality of Sofia should have intervened but didn't."
Belev criticized the privatization of Vitosha's lifts during Boyko Borissov's tenure as mayor and suggested a solution: "In 2019, as a municipal councilor in Democratic Bulgaria, I proposed that Sofia buy back the lifts, especially since they're worth nothing now that they aren't operating. Another option is to enforce the contract, as the lifts are unsafe, and the owner is required to maintain them safely. However, GERB's majority in the council didn't address this proposal for four years."
He lamented the oversimplification of political debates, noting that he has been wrongly blamed for the shutdown of the Vitosha lifts: "I've been out of the Vitosha Park management for 12 years, yet the narrative persists that I’m the one stopping the lifts."
On broader political matters, Belev expressed disappointment with the coalition with We Continue the Change (PP), stating that the Green Movement left the coalition to preserve its identity. He cited the decision to build new reactors at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant as an example of losing that identity.
Belev emphasized that Bulgaria does not need nuclear energy and that past energy strategies have failed. He warned against investing billions in new reactors that will produce electricity at higher costs than current levels.
When asked about what distinguishes the Green Movement from its former partners and other parties, Belev highlighted that the Green Movement is not a leader-centric party and prioritizes democratic principles. He criticized the common practice in Bulgarian politics of leaders holding power for too long, arguing that this leads to the death of organizations.
In conclusion, Belev underscored that green politics don't fit neatly into left-right or liberal-conservative categories, as they incorporate ideas from all sides with the core principle of not harming others for one's own development.
