site.btaSocialist Convention: Party Headed to Election Victory "Despite Right Wing"

Bouzloudja, Central Bulgaria, August 2 (BTA) - The newly elected leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Mihail Mikov, told an annual Socialist convention at Mt Bouzloudja that he will be leading the party to strength, unity and an election victory. According to BSP, some 45,000 people are attending the event which is traditionally held at the location where the Socialist Party - then Social Democratic - was founded in 1891.

Early general elections in Bulgaria are due on October 5.

"October is a battle on the road to a better and more open Bulgaria and a more responsible BSP," the new party leader said. He expressed strong conviction that his party would win the battle, "despite the Right wing and everybody who is against the Left ideas".

Mikov's predecessor and Party of European Socialists President, Sergei Stanishev, wished the new leader to achieve much more for BSP and Bulgaria than he himself did.

Stanishev spoke of "a tacit coalition" among President Rosen Plevneliev, GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms which he said is a tool in the hands of backstage players. "This is a deal for economic and political interests behind the back of Bulgarian people," said Stanishev. "We will not allow them to plunder Bulgaria," he added.