site.btaUPDATED New Socialist Leader Says His Election Was "Victory over Apathy and Surrender"

Krum Zarkov described his election as Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader on Saturday evening as "a victory over apathy and over the sense of surrender" rather than a victory of one leader over another. After his election during the 51st BSP Congress, Zarkov said in a statement that the party still has vigour and strength. He vowed to take "swift actions" with the help of his supporters.

The new Socialist leader went on to state: "Every Bulgarian citizen should know from now on that there is a party in Bulgaria that has traditions and a future, in which democracy is not just a word or merely a procedure but a way of functioning. There are mistakes, there is accountability for those mistakes, there is respect, and this is the normal political process, a process that should soon take hold across Bulgaria. And if until yesterday people were pointing fingers at us, today they should hold us up as an example. We will spread a different way of doing politics throughout the country."

Closing the BSP Congress, Zarkov proclaimed that "a new day is dawning."

In a Nova TV interview on Sunday, Zarkov expressed confidence that he would find enough people "to do what the congress has mandated". He added that he is yet to hold talks with the MPs from the parliamentary group (PG) of BSP – United Left.

The direction of BSP will be toward fighting the captured state, establishing the rule of law, and ensuring a good quality of life, Zarkov stated. Anyone who is moving in that direction - and former President Rumen Radev has stated this - is welcome for talks, and why not even for partnership, he said.

In response to a question about whether Rumen Radev would run in the upcoming early parliamentary elections with BSP, the party’s new chairman said he was not aware of any such discussions and he believes it would lack political logic. "Rumen Radev announced his political project only very recently, and you ask him to say how he intends to participate in these elections," Zarkov added.

Regarding the latest amendments to the Electoral Code that slashed the number of polling stations for Bulgarian voters outside the EU, Zarkov said he would support a potential presidential veto. He commented that the parliamentary group of BSP – United Left had not been unanimous on the adopted changes.