site.btaSocialist Leader Ninova Challenges PM Borissov to Run for President

Socialist Leader Ninova Challenges PM Borissov to Run for President

Sofia, July 14, (BTA) - The leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Kornelia Ninova gave Prime Minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov 48 hours to announce his bid for the forthcoming presidential elections. This was her response to his challenge to party leaders, including herself and Democrats for Strong Bulgaria chairman Radan Kanev, to run for the President's office.

Speaking in the bTV morning show on Thursday, Borissov turned to the other parties asking why their leaders are not running for the presidency, which would have been perfectly natural.

He cited himself as an example that when he had to be a majority candidate he ran "against anyone". Borissov was apparently refering to his experience with running in the Sofia mayoral elections - and winning them - in 2005.

Ninova said if Borissov enters the presidential race she would run too.

"Mr. Borissov, I give you 48 hours to declare your personal nomination for president of Bulgaria. If you do that, I will convene the BSP National Council immediately and ask them to nominate me as well. I will give you this battle and we will discuss who's who in election night at the National Palace of Culture. Otherwise I will take this as mere muscle-flexing while in reality you are afraid of this issue," Ninova said.

Yanko Yankov MP of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms said his party has not yet decided whether to nominate its own candidate or support another party's candidate. "Let us see what the large parties will do," he said. He was adamant that the parties must announce what president they want and what the criteria for chosing their nominee are. "What is happening now is backstage wheeling and dealing," said Yankov. He believes it is only natural for the party leaders to stand for president.

Democrats for Strong Bulgaria leader Radan Kanev commented for the press in Parliament that Borissov and the entire GERB are afraid of an independent candidate for president and that is why he is obviously ready to throw himself in the fray in order to challenge other political leaders.

According to Kanev, Bulgarians want an independent and strong candidate to act as a corrective of the government and "a completely worn out political model".

Taking a question whether there will be extraordinary elections if GERB loses the presidential ones, Kanev said snap elections are very much likely even if GERB wins.

Borissov said on bTV that if his party loses the presidential elections, he will come down immediately and cause early general elections as losing the president's office would mean that Bulgarians are ready for a new government.

Government shakep-up looming

The Prime Minister also said that he is contemplating a government shakeup but declined to provide details at this stage. He promised to do that after discussing the matter with the coalition partners and said that the government will remain unchanged if he does not get a green light from them.

Patriotic Front co-leader Valeri Simeonov said that the personalities of the government ministers matter little for them and the important thing is to have a common goal which is being pursued. He called "admirable" the Prime Minister's decision to first discuss the possible government changes with the coalition partners. He made it clear that the Patriotic Front have no serious complaints against any government member and that they are happy with the current level of dialogue in the government. "Bulgaria needs stability and not elections every couple of months," said Simeonov.