Over 80% of the supporters of leading parties in Bulgaria are in favour of a ban on construction plans in Karadere, Irakli and Koral

Almost 90% of GERB supporters (89.6%) agree that special measures are needed to guarantee the preservation of the surviving wild areas along the Black Sea Coast. More than 90% of the supporters of Patriotic Front, the third partner in the ruling coalition, also agree that special policies should be developed for the protection of sites such as Karadere, Irakli and Koral. Supporters of all the parties in the Bulgarian Parliament agree that policies for the protection of wild areas are of crucial importance. Among them are 87% of the supporters of BSP, 90% of those of ABV, and many among those without political preferences. Between 2.2% (BSP) and 5.1% (Ataka) think that special measures for protection are not needed.

81.2% are in favour of a ban on construction within a 1-kilometre belt from the beach in surviving wild areas. From those 84.7% support GERB, 83% – BSP, 82.9% – RB, and over 95% – Patriotic Front. 13% have no opinion, and 5.3% are against the idea. The percentage of ‘no opinion’ is high among supporters of DPS, and that of people against the measures is high among supporters of Ataka (14%).

The data provided by Gallup reveals that more than 88.8% agree that there should be places for nature-friendly tourism, where construction should be banned. More than 90% of the supporters of GERB, PF, RB, BSP, ABV, Ataka, as well as 60% of the supporters of DPS agree with that notion.

The public opinion poll by Gallup reveals that the proposition by the groups Save Karadere, Save Koral and Save Irakli for the creation of an Area B behind the beaches with preventive development protection for nature-friendly recreation gains the support of more than 80% of the people. The creation of a special 1-kilometre Area B behind surviving wild coast areas where information panels can be put and recreation areas without solid construction can be created will resolve violations committed for years; also, it will not allow the construction on sites along the coast that are still ‘concrete-free’. We would like to remind you that according to the active legislation the detailed management plans providing for the construction of Karadere and Koral remain valid, regardless of the fact that they have been proved to be in violation of the law. At the same time regardless of the measures taken by the authorities, construction activities in Irakli continue, and the dunes at Koral are still under threat. The creation of an Area B in the Black Sea Coast Development Act will put an end of this Catch 22.

The proposition for the creation of an Area B behind the beaches for nature-friendly recreation was published in April and it was sent to the chairs of all parliamentary parties with an invitation for a meeting. To the present moment there have been no replies to this invitation. Given that 90% of the Bulgarian voters believe that special measures are needed for the protection of the remaining wild areas along the Bulgarian black Sea Coast, and given that 80% agree that a ban on construction there is needed, will the Government and the Parliament consider the public opinion?