site.bta Socialist Leader Ninova: There Will Be Joint Leftist Presidential Nominee

Socialist Leader Ninova: There Will Be Joint Leftist Presidential Nominee

Bouzloudja Peak, North Central Bulgaria, July 30 (BTA) - Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Kornelia Ninova is certain that her party and the leftist ABV Movement will come up with a joint candidate for the November 6 presidential elections. Ninova spoke to reporters before the start of a national gathering of the BSP traditionally held around this time of the year at Bouzloudja Peak. This year's event, attended by more than 50,000 people from across the country, marks the 125th anniversary of the start of the organized socialist movement in Bulgaria.

Ninova said that she was dead certain that the presidential candidate will be supported not only by ABV, but by other leftist formations, as well as by patriotic and civic organizations. She said that new meetings are scheduled with ABV and with another left-wing formation, the 21 Movement, on August 12 and on August 9, respectively. The name of the presidential candidate will become known on August 14, when BSP's National Council is due to have a meeting.

Asked whether she expects that GERB leader and incumbent Prime Minister Boyko Borissov will be his party's runner in the elections, and whether in this case she would run for president as well, Ninova said that "with GERB anything is possible". "Borissov is inconsistent in his stand. He usually says he will not run for president, but I do not rule out doing so," Ninova said. The BSP leader added that if the party has an official candidate on August 14, the chosen person will not be replaced "on account of Borissov".

Party of the European Socialists President and former BSP leader Sergei Stanishev, who attended the gathering, urged for unity among the socialists and for a will to win the presidential elections.