site.btaNeutral Bulgaria Coalition to Nominate Mayoral Candidates in Local Elections

Coalition Neutral Bulgaria will participate in the local elections with mayoral and municipal councillor candidates, the coalition announced at a press conference in the BTA's National Press Club here on Tuesday. Neutral Bulgaria Co-Chair and Secretary General of the Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland party, Valentin Grigorov, said: "We will run for municipal councillors in Ruse, Pleven, Lovech, Cherven Bryag, Burgas, Kyustendil, Pazardzhik; for mayors in Ryahovo, Ruse, in Lehchevo, in Lovech, in Pleven".

Grigorov also introduced the other participants in the coalition: the Bulgarian Communist Party, Communist Party of Bulgaria, Party of the Bulgarian Communists and Nova Sila [New Force] party.

Nikolay Malinov, Chair of the International Russophile Movement and the National Russophile Movement, reported that his coalition will support the Bulgarian Socialist Party candidacy for mayor of the capital. Malinov noted that this is the first time when all communist parties have united in a single coalition to take part in elections.

Aleksandar Paunov, first secretary of the Communist Party of Bulgaria, said that their organizations have been instructed to unite with left parties both in Sofia and across the country. He said: "This is an opportune moment to forget our differences in order to give a decent response to the right".

Malinov reported that the 18th National and 1st International Congress of Friends of Russia will be held in the Panitsite area near the central town of Kalofer on September 16. Organizations from 20 countries have confirmed participation so far.