Theft of 2.5 Billion Leva: Maria Ilieva Reveals Scheme to Transfer BDZ to “Union Ivkoni”

Maria Ilieva accuses the governing authorities of “yet another theft” at the end of their term by transferring activities from BDZ to the private company “Union Ivkoni,” allegedly in order to absorb billion-level subsidies, and warns of a drastic increase in ticket prices.

We present the full and edited transcript of Maria Ilieva’s statement, based on the provided source:

Another Theft in BDZ and an Admission of Incompetence

“Another theft at the end of the term of this criminal administration occurred through the transfer of part of BDZ to the private company ‘Union Ivkoni.’ Why, gentlemen in power, did you decide to transfer this public service to a private company?

You officially admitted that you are incompetent! You officially admitted that you are not capable of managing even such services.

Billions in Subsidies and the Connection with GERB

Or is it because subsidies amounting to 2 billion and 54 million have to be transferred there for you to distribute among yourselves? And we all know whose company ‘Union Ivkoni’ is and how it regularly reports to those in power—specifically GERB (party)—so there is no confusion about which party is being referred to, even though they are together.

Is this your governance? If you cannot manage BDZ, then what can you manage in this state? Why were you in power at all, other than to steal?

Future Increase in Ticket Prices and the Role of BSP

And you determine the money, you make the payments, you set the ticket prices, and you wait for someone else to do the work? And, of course, next year ticket prices will be doubled and tripled.

And here I turn to BSP (party)—the social policy. Where are you going, gentlemen coalition partners? When you hear: ‘Of course the price will increase. We had to invest in 60, maybe 50 new trains. These are investments; they are expensive. We had to fix the railway lines, the infrastructure.’

Schemes Until the Last Second: “Run, Little Feet”

Your thefts have no end, your schemes have no end! Until the very last moment, until the very last second, you keep thinking about how to steal, from whom to steal, and if possible to privatize the entire state, and in the end to take it for yourselves and be done.

Hopefully you leave faster, before you have stolen everything that exists in this country. ‘Run, little feet,’ as fast as possible!”

~ Maria Ilieva, Member of Parliament from “Velichie” (party)