site.btaNo One Is Re-establishing, Disbanding or Re-branding Socialist Party, Interim Leader Says

Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) acting leader Atanas Zafirov is optimistic that his party will achieve much better results at the next parliamentary elections than at the latest ones, when the BSP for Bulgaria coalition garnered 7.06% of the vote and got the fifth-largest parliamentary group out of a total of seven. Interviewed on Bulgarian National Television on Sunday, Zafirov said, as quoted by the Socialists' press office: "BSP is undergoing a process of consolidation and reinforcement. The way we and our coalition partners have been going over the last few months gives us much confidence that our result at the next elections will be considerably better."

According to Zafirov, the tendency to lose voters has affected all parties and is due to systemic mistakes. Government institutions have lost much of their credibility, and politics have worn out, he said. The new BSP leadership is clearly aware of this and has set down a course of action on two levels. Internally, the way to go is to consolidate, reach out a hand inside the party, seek ideological unity after various ideological currents were overlooked in the last few years, and empower the grassroots chapters of the party. Externally, the Socialists must work for consolidation of the left wing, which is irreversible. "Left is trendy and functioning again. The French example shows that if there is a cause, the Left can consolidate quickly and win," Zafirov said.

The interim leader said he has the support of his party to hold talks with other left-wing forces. Commenting on recent allegations, he was adamant: "No one is going to re-establish, disband or re-brand BSP and make new parties. We are talking about a coalition process involving equal partners. We are talking about sending a message to left-leaning voters who have refused to vote in recent years due to the squabbles in the left wing."

The Left is facing a historic moment, Zafirov noted. "If we find the right approach, if we rise above the mundane and turn a new page, nothing can stop us." He said his optimism is growing with every meeting he has, and the process should culminate on July 26, when left-wing parties will sign a document at a large joint meeting in the southern city of Stara Zagora. This will add more meaning to the motto "Together. Buzludzha Is the Beginning", chosen for the Socialists' annual gathering on Mt Buzludzha on July 27. BSP expects that all its left-wing partners will join the event. "It will be a new beginning of progress and of the future of the Left," Zafirov said.

Asked who will compile the BSP lists of candidates for the next early parliamentary elections, which Bulgaria is obviously headed for, he said that the lists will be proposed by the party's grassroots chapters, as usual. The final versions will be approved by the BSP National Council.

Taking a question about the third and last exploratory mandate for forming a government under the present Parliament, Zafirov said: "We are willing to participate in talks. We must try. If there is a modicum of common sense left in our colleagues in the National Assembly, they should heed the voice of the people and reckon with the situation, so all the parties should hold talks."

He called for normal relations with President Rumen Radev. Zafirov noted that BSP is the only party to put up a president twice and see him re-elected. "In difficult moments we are able to mobilize and offer the right solutions and the right people," he said.