Former MP and BSP member, now leader of the Movement 21, Tatyana Doncheva, is among the three new quitters. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency
MP Petar Korumbashev, former MP Tatyana Doncheva and former MEP Atanas Paparizov have withdrawn their bids to run as the leftist Bulgarian Socialist Party's presidential runner.
Thus, only five hopefuls remain in the race for the left wingers' presidential candidates – former Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin (2005-2009), current Presidential Advisor, Ivo Atanasov, former MEP Georgi Bliznashki, and the leader of BSP in the Sofia suburb of Bankiya, Stefan Vasilev.
Earlier on Saturday, a businessman from Bulgaria's second largest city of Plovdiv, Georgi Gergov, as well as one more nominee, Ivan Gaytandzhiev, also withdrew their nominations run for President on the ballot of the leftists.
The National Council of the oppositional Bulgarian Socialist Party is convening Saturday to decide on their nomination to run for President.
The forum is also discussing the party's election platform, where it is written that the President of Bulgaria must be "active, leader of the unification of the nation, guarantor of democracy, and statesman with a strategic vision for Bulgaria."
The document has a special section assessing the two terms of the former BSP leader, President, Georgi Parvanov, and Vice-President, Angel Marin, pointing out these two terms have demonstrated that the presidential institution can overcome party interests all while Parvanov had outlined national priorities and engaged other institutions with the real problems of Bulgarians.