Four ministers and two retired army generals are on the list from which the Socialists party in Bulgarian capital Sofia will pick their mayor nominee, city party leader Rumen Ovcharov said on Friday.

Ovcharov, the outgoing economy and energy minister, who resigned last month for his part in trying to influence a high-profile corruption investigation, is on the list.

"I believe my nomination does not meet the requirement for a consensus figure, which could attract the support of other parties," he told reporters.

The other nominees are Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin, Culture Minister Stefan Danailov and Assen Gagauzov, in charge of regional development.

Bulgaria's former Chief of General Staff, gen. Nikola Kolev (ret.), who is now serving as chief of staff for President Georgi Parvanov, is considered one of the favourites to win the nomination.

Gen. Radoslav Peshleevski (ret.), the former chief of engineering troops, is a relative unknown on the Bulgarian political scene, and is seen as an outsider in the race.

A total 21 names are on the list of nominees, which includes also former deputy finance minister Georgi Kadiev, investment agency chief Stoyan Stalev and former regional development minister Kostadin Paskalev.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!