site.btaBSP – United Left Leader Zafirov Rules Out Running in Next Parliamentary Elections

“I will not take part in the battle for parliament in the next elections. I want us to put forward new, young people,” said Atanas Zafirov, leader of the BSP – United Left coalition, speaking on Bulgarian National Television on Thursday.

He called on his colleagues in the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) to open up their candidate lists to people who have not previously been involved in state politics. Zafirov added that this will be the measure of whether he has the party’s support. “I give my solemn word that BSP – United Left will be represented in parliament and will defend the Left’s positions with dignity in the next parliament,” he stated. He also noted that it would be very bad if BSP fails to enter parliament.

Zafirov also discussed what the Socialists think about the expected political project of Rumen Radev after his resignation as President of Bulgaria last week. Zafirov commented: “Rumen Radev is the president whom our voters call ‘our president’. Let us see the character of the project he will present, and it is entirely normal for us to look for common ground, but it is clear that in this election he will be our opponent.”

Radev won his two presidential terms with the BSP's support.