Socialist MP: Top Bulgarian Movie Star is Best Presidential Bid

Bulgaria's former Culture Minister and Member of the Parliament from the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Stefan Danailov, is the best candidate of the opposition.

The statement was made Saturday by the BSP MP, leader of the Sofia branch of the party, and former Economy and Energy Minister, Rumen Ovcharov, at the city conference of the Socialists, saying Danailov was one of the most dignified actors of contemporary Bulgaria.

Danailov, who is also one of Bulgaria's most popular movie and drama actors, currently featured in the hit series "Glass House," however officially declared recently, and on several occasions, he had no intentions to run for President in the fall.

"The time has come to liberate the Presidential Institution from the undue power and political burden from the last 20 years and return it to its real, mainly representative functions. Danailov can play this role with dignity, span and responsibility in the interest of Bulgaria, but we must prepare well the scenario and offer him this role," Ovcharov said.

The nomination of Georgi Kadiev as BSP Mayor of Sofia is already clear and polls show he is the best left-wing candidate at the moment, again according to Ovcharov.

The Socialist PM further pointed out there were mistakes in the nominations of candidates for municipal councilmen, saying the latter's desire to make the ballot led to "personal campaigning and friendly fire on the Internet."

"The BSP victory in the upcoming elections is compulsory and possible, and the change started in Sofia," Ovcharov concluded.