site.btaABV to Accept Bulgarian Socialist Party's Invitation to Talks but without Preliminary Conditions

ABV to Accept Bulgarian Socialist Party's Invitation to Talks but without Preliminary Conditions

Sofia, July 10 (BTA) - The ABV formation will accept the invitation of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) to a meeting on the forthcoming presidential elections, but it is against the setting of preliminary conditions, ABV Deputy Chairman Roumen Petkov said at a news conference hosted by the BTA Press Club on Sunday.

"It is slightly improper to set preliminary conditions on what topics [can be discussed], including what names can be commented on," Petkov said, referring to a recent statement by BSP leader Kornelia Ninova in which she said ABV leader Georgi Purvanov and ABV member Ivailo Kalfin cannot be common candidates of the Left wing.

According to ABV, the nomination of Rosen Plevneliev for president was the big political failure of the ruling GERB party at the previous elections.

In Petkov's words, probably next week his formation and the Gergyovden movement will sign a political agreement on a serious partnership in the National Assembly in relation to the forthcoming presidential campaign and the campaign for electing a new Parliament.

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The independent presidential candidate Vesselin Mareshki, who is also the owner of a chain of pharmacies and filling stations, Sunday said in a letter to the media that he withdraws from the presidential elections for two reasons. The first is his wish to focus on the "patriotic act of recking the cartel on the fuel market". The second reason is the lack of seriousness with which parties regard the presidential elections, and their attempt at completely depersonalizing the presidential institution by nominating "depreciated individuals" from Bulgaria's transition period to democracy. "I refuse to participate in this circus," he says in the letter.

The letter reads further that in Dobrich (Northeastern Bulgaria) on July 14, the first structure of Mareshki's National Liberation Movement for Pure and Holy Republic will be set up.