site.btaWhat Unites Balkan Peoples Far Outweighs What Divides Them, Says Deputy PM Zafirov

Addressing young delegates from left-wing parties at the "Shaping the Future of Social Democracy in the Balkans" conference, hosted by the youth wing of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Deputy Prime Minister and BSP National Council Chair Atanas Zafirov emphasized that what unites the peoples of the Balkans far outweighs what divides them. “That is why it is important to stand together, to understand and support one another. Only then do we have a real chance to bring about meaningful change,” he said. The event took place in Stara Zagora, South Central Bulgaria.

Zafirov recalled that Mount Buzludzha, near Stara Zagora, was the place where the organized socialist movement in Bulgaria began 134 years ago. “It was a movement in which labour was rewarded with dignity, and the state worked in the interest of society, not capital. In it, people were treated as individuals. This is the essence of socialism as it was then – and, in fact, nothing has changed. These principles and this vision of socialism and social justice are still desperately needed today. Because social democracy is not merely a good intention, it is a way to fight for a fairer world,” the BSP leader said.

Addressing the young participants, Zafirov underlined that young people are the true engine of change. He urged them not to be afraid, but to ask questions and bring forward their ideas.