site.btaMRF Leader Karadayi Does Not Name Presidential Candidate Who Deserves Support in Runoffs

Sofia, November 17 (BTA) - Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) leader Mustafa Karadayi did not name the presidential candidate who he believes should be supported in the second round of elections this Sunday. MRF voters are very wise and will make the right choice by electing a president who comes as close as possible to the profile outlined by the party during the election campaign, said Karadayi during a news conference at his party's headquarters after a meeting of its decision-making body.

Incumbent President Rumen Radev is seeking reelection and will face Prof. Anastas Gerdjikov, who is backed by GERB, in the runoff election.

Karadayi recalled the profile of the presidential institution outlined by his party, as a figure uniting the nation and all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of where they are, someone who upholds the Constitution, the rule of law and as someone who can build consensus both in normal times and during crises, represent statehood and the State in front of the world, and the voice of causes that unite the nation.

It thus transpired that MRF does not expect their supporters to vote for Radev, whom the party accused of not observing the Constitution and dividing the nation.

Karadayi noted that these elections are exceptionally important, as they concern a very important institution.

The MRF leader also ran in the presidential elections as the first candidate ever nominated by his party, and ranked third with 11.6 per cent of the votes.

He declined to comment the possible support for a government formed on Continue the Change's exploratory mandate, and only said that first it has "to be seen who offers what".

According to Karadayi, the most important thing this country needs right now is national unity, because a divided society cannot prosper. He noted that "we live in a society plagued by numerous crises, such as COVID-19, health care, social and energy crises, as well as democratic, statehood and political crises. In order to overcome all these crises, there must be national unity first and restoration of democracy, so that the political crises can be overcome, he said, adding that this cannot happen through revenge. LN/MY