site.btaPurvanov, Kalfin and Petkov to Withdraw from ABV Leadership but Not from Politics

Purvanov, Kalfin and Petkov to Withdraw from ABV Leadership but Not from Politics

Sofia, December 21 (BTA) - Georgi Purvanov on Wednesday announced his decision to step down as Chairman of the ABV party. Ivailo Kalfin and Roumen Petkov will quit their posts as deputy chairmen. Purvanov told a news briefing in the National Assembly that he is not withdrawing from politics as he feels he is still capable of putting his connections to work for the party and the country.

The former president of Bulgaria explained that he is vacating the top post in the ABV in order to give the party a chance to assume a more radical policy line. "I am not the type of person who would stay on in politics past retirement age in order to serve as a universal excuse and a target of accusations by colleagues in other parties," he said.

Purvanov noted that he can step down officially on January 15, when the ABV will hold a congress ahead of the expected early parliamentary elections. After that he would not like to engage in day-to-day work in the party, but he will stay committed to its ideas and initiatives and will tour the country again during the election campaign.

"Not only Roumen Petkov and Ivailo Kalfin but also other people of my generation will make a step back," Purvanov said, adding that Petkov and Kalfin can remain in the ABV's Executive Bureau, but their deputy leader posts will be taken over by younger people.