site.bta Ex-President Purvanov: The Formula for President is Non-partisan, But Not Anti-party Nomination

Ex-President Purvanov: The Formula for President is Non-partisan, But Not Anti-party Nomination

Sofia, August 3 (BTA) - The formula for a joint nominee for president is a non-partisan but not anti-party one, ABV Chairman and former Bulgarian President (2002-2012) Georgi Purvanov said Wednesday. He was speaking at the BTA Press Club after ABV and Gergiovden Movement signed an agreement on joint actions and partnership in view of the forthcoming presidential elections.

Taking a question, Purvanov said that there is an eligible candidate among the names nominated by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). This, however, does not mean ABV will not have other nominees.

BSP and its coalition partners decided Tuesday to put forward six nominees for the November 6 presidential elections. The party-nominated persons are MEP Iliana Iotova, MP Yanaki Stoilov, MP Roumen Gechev and MP and former BSP leader Mihail Mikov. The non-party names are National Ombudsman Maya Manolova and Major General Rumen Radev.

According to Purvanov, the president should embody the unity of the nation, and the sooner the broadest support is achieved, the better. That is why ABV will look for such a nominee, preferably a non-party one, which does not mean an anti-party one, he said.

Purvanov said Gen. Radev is a professional man and a man of integrity, but he refused to comment on his nomination because, although he has resigned from the Air Force, the procedure has not been completed yet.

According to Gergiovden Movement Chairman Dragomir Stefanov, such a nomination could possibly unite many more voters from both the Left and the Right. GERB still has no nominee and it could be a general, apparently a reference to the position of the incumbent Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

Purvanov thinks that a uniform coalition should not be made at any price. A network of support is better, enabling ABV to be involved with Gergiovden and the BSP with other partners but resulting in a uniform and convincing campaign.

Taking a question, Purvanov said there is no way he can run for vice president with Gen. Radev. "Once a president, always a president," he said, adding that he would cooperate to find the best possible nomination for the position who would increase support for the presidential nominee.