Ex PM Stanishev Reelected Bulgarian Socialist Leader

Politics » DOMESTIC | May 20, 2012, Sunday // 10:15
Ex PM Stanishev Reelected Bulgarian Socialist Leader: Ex PM Stanishev Reelected Bulgarian Socialist Leader Former Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev, prevailed in the heated race and is once again leader of Bulgaria's left-wing Socialist party. Photo by BGNES

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev was reelected late Saturday evening to lead the main opposition party in the country, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP.

The delegates of the party's 48th congress had to choose between him and Georgi Kadiev, former candidate for Mayor of Sofia. According to flash results, 75% have voted for Stanishev and 22% for Kadiev.

The main adversary of Stanishev – former President, Georgi Parvanov (2002 – 2012), who recently finished his second term in office and who was BSP leader before being elected Head of State, surprisingly withdrew Saturday, saying the forum was "not ready for the change." Before that he strongly criticized the ex PM, declaring the latter was "clogging the party."

Darik radio reports that Parvanov told the delegates he had decided to give up on the race because he did not want to divide the party and received standing ovation for these words.

"I talked very seriously about change; the need of a deep organizational, ideological, and political change. Obviously, the delegates here are not ready for it; it must be postponed. So, it is only natural for me to withdraw at this point," said he.

The congress continues Sunday and it is expected that Stanishev will address the delegates.

Another intrigue is the election of a Chair of the BSP's Control Committee, where outspoken Member of the Parliament, Maya Manolova, is running against Valentina Bogdanova, who held the post in the last 10 years. Manolova has 51% currently and says she wants to become Chair to help avoid retributions in the party under such "complex internal circumstances."

The delegates also voted for National Council where the requirement for the runners is to collect more than half of the vote of the delegates. There are 567 candidates total for 111 National Council members and 31 members of the Control Committee.

Mass run-off voting is on the table since no more than 40 people are expected to receive over 50% support. Some of the most popular BSP members, such as star movie and theater actor, Stefan Danailov, withdrew from the race. Danailov is quoted saying that he will never again be part of the party's leadership.

The results for the vote for National Council will be announced Sunday.

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Tags: GERB, leader, Georgi Parvanov, Sergey Stanishev, BSP, delegates, Bulgarian Socialist Party, opposition, Congress, Georgi Kadiev, Stefan Danailov

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