Topical Information

The Mayor of Blagoevgrad Municipality, Metodi Baikushev, was the guest in the latest episode of the podcast "MayorCast: 30 Years in 30 Minutes", produced to mark the 30th anniversary of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB). During the conversation, he outlined the key challenges facing local government and highlighted the importance of cooperation among municipalities through the Association.

"Participation in the Association is invaluable for us because it allows us to continuously exchange experience, compare ideas, and find solutions to problems that all municipalities face," said Metodi Baikushev.

Among the main topics discussed were waste management, the implementation of the "polluter pays" principle, the need to update local taxes and fees, and the importance of greater financial autonomy for municipalities. According to the Mayor of Blagoevgrad, fiscal decentralisation is a prerequisite for better governance and stronger local democracy.

"To manage a municipality effectively, you need predictability. When you don't know what resources will be available, capital investments are postponed and long-term planning becomes extremely difficult," he said. In his view, decentralisation is not only about providing municipalities with more financial resources but also about granting them greater powers and the real ability to implement policies tailored to the specific needs of their regions.

Mayor Baikushev also shared his vision for the development of Blagoevgrad as a modern university, economic and investment hub. He noted that the city continues to attract young people thanks to its strong educational environment, growing business sector, and high-value local economy. He also highlighted the municipality's active partnership with the business community through initiatives that connect students with employers from an early age.

Special attention was given to the major infrastructure projects that will be implemented under the Regions in Growth Programme, as well as to the municipality's efforts to improve the urban environment.

Towards the end of the interview, Mayor Baikushev drew attention to the issue of illegal construction, which, in his opinion, requires a national approach and legislative changes.

"This is a national issue. It is not a problem of a single municipality. Municipalities need greater capacity, more resources, and clear mechanisms to address it effectively," the Mayor said.

The full interview is available here.

NAMRB extends its gratitude to all mayors and their teams who contributed to the production of the series and made "MayorCast: 30 Years in 30 Minutes" possible.

Special thanks also go to the team of the Bulgarian National Radio – Digital Programmes Directorate:

• Author: Veselina Milanova
• Camera Operator: Kristian Bozov
• Editor: Mihail Mihov
• Producers: Violeta Ashikova, Zlatko Zhelev
• Executive Producer: Ivo Todorov