site.btaBSP Unanimously Backs Iliana Iotova’s Presidential Bid

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has unanimously reaffirmed its support for Iliana Iotova’s candidacy for president, with no members of the party’s National Council voting against or abstaining, BSP Chair Krum Zarkov said at a news conference following the Council’s meeting on Saturday. Zarkov said the party had established a national campaign headquarters that would work to support Iotova’s election bid. The BSP’s Executive Bureau had also been strengthened to enable the party to take a more active role in the campaign, he added.

The BSP is also prepared to enter talks on Iotova’s choice of running mate, with discussions expected to begin immediately. Zarkov said a contact group had been appointed to liaise with Iotova and her team and would formally begin consultations on Sunday.

He said the BSP trusted Iotova’s political experience to put together a balanced team for the initiative committee that will support her presidential campaign.

According to Zarkov, the party also hopes Iotova will select a vice-presidential candidate capable of giving the office greater substance and making effective use of the powers delegated to it by the president. He stressed that the vice president should not be viewed merely as the head of State’s deputy, but as a separate constitutional institution entrusted with important responsibilities.

BTA recalls that Iotova announced on July 24 that she would run for president in the upcoming election as a candidate to be nominated by an initiative committee. Several days later, Zarkov said following a meeting of the BSP’s Executive Bureau that the party would support her candidacy.

Speaking on Saturday, Iotova said the name of her vice-presidential candidate would be announced the following week. She added that the chair of the initiative committee would be announced on September 8, when the committee is also scheduled to be formally established.