Sofia powerless against horse-drawn carts

When the mayor of Sofia, Jordanka Fandakova, took office more than a year ago, she promised that the horse-drawn wagons used primarily by Roma as transportation would be banned from the streets of the Bulgarian capital. But the annoying vehicles are still there, complains the daily Standart: "The problem appears to be extraordinarily interesting. Non-governmental organizations have stood up against the attempt to bar the horse-drawn carts from Sofia. One of them even tried to sue the city on charges of discrimination. In a legally adventurous manner, this brought the horse-drawn wagon issue up to the level of minority rights. As if Bulgarians would not use these wagons, and as if the ban would make it impossible for Roma to earn a living. How can it happen that such simple state measures are hindered in this way, only to protect the rights of the minority that use these horse-drawn carts? The intentions may be good, but the whole issue distracts from the main problem - the right of people to move freely without having to dodge dung heaps, without having to endure traffic jams or suffer accidents caused by vehicles that date back to the 18th century."

» full article (external link, Bulgarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Integration, » Minorities, » Social affairs, » Human rights, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Martin Karbovski

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, December 14, 2010