Krum Zarkov Elected Socialist Party Leader

Valentin Evstatiev, Teodora Tsaneva, Nikoleta Vasileva

Former caretaker justice minister Krum Zarkov was elected Chair of the Bulgarian Socialist Party at its 51st Congress, Sofia, February 7, 2026 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)

Sofia,

07.02.2026 22:07

(BTA)

Former caretaker justice minister Krum Zarkov is the new leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). Zarkov won 416 out of 721 valid votes cast during the party’s 51st Congress, held in Sofia on Saturday, said Madlen Stoyanova, chair of the BSP leadership election commission.

A total of 737 delegates voted in the election. Sixteen ballots were invalid.

Borislav Gutsanov and Rusi Statkov, who also bid for the top party post, received 302 votes and 3 votes, respectively.

The delegates also voted for Krum Zarkov to become a member of the BSP National Council.

Earlier, the party had announced that following the voluntary withdrawals of some candidates, only Borislav Gutsanov, Krum Zarkov and Rusi Statkov remained in the race for the leadership post.

Prior to the vote, Atanas Zafirov submitted his resignation as BSP leader in a speech to the delegates.

/VE/