Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SOFIA652
2009-11-16 16:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIA: SOFIA ELECTS FIRST WOMAN MAYOR
how-toVZCZCXRO9307 OO RUEHIK DE RUEHSF #0652 3201634 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 161634Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6477 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SOFIA 000652
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: SOFIA ELECTS FIRST WOMAN MAYOR
UNCLAS SOFIA 000652
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: SOFIA ELECTS FIRST WOMAN MAYOR
1. (SBU) The ruling Citizens for European Development of
Bulgaria (GERB) party consolidated its power with the
election of current Education Minister Yordanka Fandakova as
mayor of Sofia. Sofia held mayor by-elections on November 15
to replace former mayor, Boyko Borissov, who became Prime
Minister after general elections in July. Fandakova received
66 percent of votes. Her closest rival, Bulgarian Socialist
Party (BSP) candidate Georgi Kadiev, received 28 percent of
the votes. Voter turnout was the lowest on record with only
23 percent of the population showing up at the polls.
2. (SBU) The 47-year-old Fandakova is a relatively new face
in Bulgarian politics. After a 20-year career as a teacher
and school principal, she was appointed by then-Mayor Boyko
Borissov, as his deputy in charge of education in 2005. As
Minister of Education, she became one of the three most
popular members of the GERB cabinet. Fandakova is the first
woman elected mayor of Sofia.
3. (SBU) Comment: The Prime Minister's GERB party continues
to consolidate power in Bulgaria. As mayor, Fandakova faces
a laundry list of problems: lack of a modern urban planning
system, a poorly organized public transportation system,
serious traffic gridlock, endemic corruption and a lack of
facilities for children and disabled persons. As a member of
the ruling party, Fandakova will have to find real solutions
to these problems, since blaming her predecessor won't be an
option.
SUTTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: SOFIA ELECTS FIRST WOMAN MAYOR
1. (SBU) The ruling Citizens for European Development of
Bulgaria (GERB) party consolidated its power with the
election of current Education Minister Yordanka Fandakova as
mayor of Sofia. Sofia held mayor by-elections on November 15
to replace former mayor, Boyko Borissov, who became Prime
Minister after general elections in July. Fandakova received
66 percent of votes. Her closest rival, Bulgarian Socialist
Party (BSP) candidate Georgi Kadiev, received 28 percent of
the votes. Voter turnout was the lowest on record with only
23 percent of the population showing up at the polls.
2. (SBU) The 47-year-old Fandakova is a relatively new face
in Bulgarian politics. After a 20-year career as a teacher
and school principal, she was appointed by then-Mayor Boyko
Borissov, as his deputy in charge of education in 2005. As
Minister of Education, she became one of the three most
popular members of the GERB cabinet. Fandakova is the first
woman elected mayor of Sofia.
3. (SBU) Comment: The Prime Minister's GERB party continues
to consolidate power in Bulgaria. As mayor, Fandakova faces
a laundry list of problems: lack of a modern urban planning
system, a poorly organized public transportation system,
serious traffic gridlock, endemic corruption and a lack of
facilities for children and disabled persons. As a member of
the ruling party, Fandakova will have to find real solutions
to these problems, since blaming her predecessor won't be an
option.
SUTTON