There is a serious threat for EU funds already negotiated for Bulgaria if the extreme left comes to power after the May 12 snap general elections, according to former Regional Minister, Lilyana Pavlova.

Pavlova, who is leading the ticket of the centrist GERB party in the Black Sea city of Varna, spoke there in introducing her bid.

She explained that BGN 32 B in EU funds have been negotiated for Bulgaria's infrastructure, economy, healthcare and other key sectors for the next program period, but in case the extreme left comes to power in the country, Brussels would simply freeze them all.

According to Pavlova, the trend of nationalist and far-left ideas becoming more and more popular was very dangerous and could lead to the full collapse of the country.

The former Minister admitted that despite all the great deeds, the Cabinet of her Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, had made mistakes, some of them in Varna.

"Recently, righteous anger over unbearable electric bills made Varna people take to the streets, and turned the city into the protest capital of Bulgaria," said she.

Pavlova, however, voiced firm belief that instead Varna had the potential to become the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2019, while its image of Black Sea capital should be maintained and reinforced.

The image of the city was listed among her top priorities, along with finishing the Hemus highway to connect it with the capital Sofia, the overhaul of the port complex, improving the overall infrastructure, attracting youth labor, as youth unemployment rate in Varna is one of the lowest in the country, and active advancement of medicine and healthcare.

Pavlova is considered one of the strongest bidders on GERB's ballots. During her term as Regional Minister she enjoyed high approval ratings. Former Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, nominated her for his deputy to replace Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, after the latter submitted his resignation. The idea failed to materialize as on the next day (February 20), Borisov announced his decision to resign, following huge protest rallies across the country.

Despite all of the above, she was booed Sunday by protesting Varna residents while entering and leaving the theater building where she presented her bid.

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