Socialist Presidential Hopeful: Bulgarian PM's Candidate, Not Kuneva, Is My Main Rival

Bulgarian Socialist Party's candidate for the October presidential elections Ivailo Kalfin has stated he sees ruling GERB party's candidate Rosen Plevneliev as his main rival.

"My main opponent is Plevneliev, not ex-EU Commissioner Meglena Kuneva," said Kalfin at a press conference Wednesday.

Kuneva, who served as Consumer Protection Commissioner in the first Barroso college, has tabled her name as an independent candidate for the October 23 poll.

In the press conference Wednesday Kalfin said he was happy to finally learn his GERB rival Sunday, but criticised what he saw as the authoritative way he was nominated by GERB leader and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov.

At the same time, Kalfin, a PES MEP, wished to have a constructive debate during the campaing with Plevneliev, himself up to now a popular Minister of Public Works in the Borisov cabinet.

"We must have a thorough discussion about our visions of the role of president in Bulgarian political life and in shaping Bulgaria's future," said the socialist candidate.

He commented that it is better for both Plevneliev and Bulgaria if Plevneliev actually manages to come out from the domination of PM Borisov and to speak out with an intependent voice.

An opinion poll issued Sunday by the MBMD agency claimed that the yet not uveiled GERB candidate was to come out first with some 31.2% of the vote, no matter who he or she is.

In the study, 32.7% of Bulgarians said they would vote for Plevneliev if he was to run, with 15.7% supporting Kuneva, and Kalfin coming out third at 12.3%.

Regarding the second round, the poll showed that GERB's Plevneliev will get 33.6% of the vote if he faces Kuneva, who will achieve some 22%.

If Plevenliev has to face the socialist Kalfin, he would have a better showing of 41.3%, while Kalfin would get 14.2%.