site.bta Bulgaria for the Citizens Movement Certain that Reformist Bloc Must Have Single Runner in Autumn Presidential Elections

Bulgaria for the Citizens Movement Certain that Reformist Bloc Must Have Single Runner in Autumn Presidential Elections

Sofia, June 18 (BTA) - Leader of the Bulgaria for the Citizens Movement Meglena Kuneva told a news conference Saturday that the Movement is absolutely certain that the Reformist Bloc, where the formation is one of the members, must have a single runner in the presidential elections in the autumn. Kuneva, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Education and Science Minister, spoke after a meeting of the Movement's National Council.

Kuneva said that the members of the Movement implied that they consider it appropriate whereby the leaders of the other parties in the Reformist Bloc stand back and give an opportunity for a nomination that can be either political or civic, but a candidate who unites and who has a clearly expressed European outlook. The Bulgaria for the Citizens Movement leader said that the Reformist Bloc nomination will strengthen the right-of-centre core of the image of the new Bulgarian president and also the moral requirements for his/her nomination.

Bulgaria for the Citizens Movement deputy leader Naiden Zelenogorski said that the nomination should not be a party one, but a strong civic nomination. "This must be an opinion maker, a proven democrat, a super professional and a Euro-Atlantic-oriented person; he/she should also increase the trust in the Reformist Bloc," Zelenogorski said. He urged that the nomination be ready by the end of July to give time to the candidate to formulate his/her positions on how the presidency should look like.

Kuneva said that since February she has served as a Science and Education Minister, so that "no scenario" existed for her to be a presidential runner.