The center-right GERB cabinet in office is a "joke" that will lead Bulgaria to disaster, stated leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party at the opening of the party's 47th congress.

He went out to slam GERB's rule as highly "arrogant," but exceptionally "powerless" and "lacking in character," which according to him is attested by what he sees as cabinet's random policies.

Stanishev expressed worries about the outlook of Bulgaria to emerge from the economic crisis in the near future, drawing attention to GERB's economic and fiscal policy which he saw as detrimental to Bulgarian business.

"If public perception was that BSP is a corrupt party, then this has paled compared to GERB's self-serving actions," stated the ex-PM.

The socialist leader was nevertheless cautious about the prospects of his party on upcoming municipal and presidential elections in 2011.

"We have yet to clearly see that growing public disapproval of GERB is transformed in more support for BSP," said Stanishev.

Nevertheless, he expressed his belief that in Bulgaria the Socialist Party is the only actor that can "stop" what GERB is doing.

This remark is best interpreted as addressed not only at Bulgaria's fragmented and unpopular political right wing, but also at the much talked about future "political project" of President Georgi Parvanov, who was BSP's leader before Stanishev (1996-2002), and might enter in competition with the socialists for leftist voters.

President of the Party of European Socialists Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, who is a special guest to the congress, stated that the party needs to consolidate behind its leader to score a good result at upcoming elections.

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