Headline: Bomb Threat Halts Municipal Council Meeting; Long-Time Chairman Ousted in Mineralni Bani
Article:
A two-hour pause due to a bomb scare at the Municipal Council meeting in Mineralni Bani didn’t halt the inevitable dismissal of long-standing chairman, Mehmed Latiف. The controversial decision was passed unanimously by 8 out of 13 present council members, leading to the election of Ekreм Yüzeir as the new chairman in a secret ballot.
Latiف, an avid supporter of the Democrat Party for a Strong Bulgaria (DPS), led by Делян Пеевски, failed to attend the meeting and was unreachable by phone throughout the day. Our reporters at Haskovo.net have repeatedly attempted to reach him for comment and will continue to do so.
The council’s decision comes amidst escalating tensions following the split of DPS into DPS and Alternative for Bulgarian Society (ABS), led by former honorary chair Ahmed Dogan and former co-chair Jевдет Чакъров. Mineralni Bani’s council was the last to remain loyal to Dogan and Чакъров, with Latiف opposing their stance.
The political tensions in Mineralni Bani run deep, predating the recent DPS schism. A long-standing conflict exists between the town’s mayor, Mymyun Iskender, currently under house arrest due to a suspected misuse of European funds, and Latiֆ.
In 2019, Latiф was previously ousted from his chairmanship position, with Ekreм Yüzeir taking his place. Yüzeir is known for his close ties with Iskender. Following the party’s Central Operational Bureau decree, Latiф was re-elected in late 2019, retaining his post until today’s dismissal.
Latiф’s removal is expected to further escalate the power struggle in Mineralni Bani, with residents eagerly awaiting developments in this dynamic political landscape.
For more on this story, visit Haskovo.net.
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