site.btaSocialist Leader Ninova: "Our Political Opponent Is GERB, But Our Enemy Is Fear"

104 POLITICS - SOCIALISTS - GATHERING - LOCAL ELECTIONS

Socialist Leader Ninova: "Our Political
Opponent Is GERB, But
Our Enemy Is Fear"

July 27 (BTA) - Addressing 40,000 supporters and members of the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) during the party's annual gathering at Bouzloudja Peak, BSP leader Kornelia Ninova Saturday expressed the hope that the party will begin energized its new battle for the local elections. In her words, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is in power not because he can and not because the people wants him and likes him, but because of fear and apathy. "Today, our political opponent is GERB but our enemy is fear and our task is to go to every poor, weak, underprivileged and humiliated person, to offer them a hand, to give them hope and strength, and to show them that our fate depends on each one of us," she said.

Ninova commented that day after day GERB gives up on its key mayors, which she described as an acknowledgement of failure. Changing these mayors will not change the governance model, she argued. Unlike GERB, the BSP supports its successful mayors and will once again nominate mayors who have served three or four terms in office, are loved and respected by their fellow-citizens, Ninova said, adding that her party will also have many young and new mayoral candidates.

In her words, the settlements which elect a Socialist mayor will keep their municipal healthcare and will have pensioners' clubs and social homes for the poor.

Ninova told the gathering that the BSP is the only party that has defeated GERB in elections. "They have decided to destroy us financially by stopping our [state] subsidy, they have made us choose between giving up and selling ourselves to the oligarchy," she said. "They do not know what the BSP is: we do not give up and we are not for sale; we continue with the faith with which we came here," she added.

Saturday's gathering at Bouzloudja Peak marked the 128th anniversary of organized socialist movement in Bulgaria.