site.bta PM Radev Says Progressive Bulgaria and Coalition Partners Will Back Iliana Iotova's Presidential Bid

Prime Minister and Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev said on Tuesday that the party and its coalition partners had decided to support the presidential candidacy of incumbent President Iliana Iotova.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the party's Executive Council, Radev said he and Iotova had spent the past 10 years working together to strengthen state institutions and restore normality in Bulgarian politics.

"Iotova is a strong and experienced politician, and I am convinced she will continue to defend the public interest and work for consensus among the institutions with the same energy and sense of responsibility," he said.

Radev said discussions were under way on Iotova's running mate. He added that her candidacy would be nominated by an initiative committee, which would also announce the presidential ticket.

Asked what qualities the vice president should have, Radev said he would welcome someone with a profile similar to Iotova's. He said the vice president should above all preserve the unity of the presidential institution and have "a heart for Bulgaria."

Commenting on the presidential race, Radev said it was too early to speak about potential competition from the political right, adding that "there is still nothing on the right." He also criticized GERB leader Boyko Borissov's call for a candidate to be nominated by an initiative committee.

Earlier in July, Iotova told Bulgarian National Television that she would run for president in the autumn election and that her candidacy would be put forward by an initiative committee.