Политика

Out of 700 candidates at the 46th BSP Congress, 119 members of the Supreme Council - the body that determines the party's policy - were elected. With a secret vote for a member of the Supreme Court of the BSP with a significant number of votes, Ivan Lebanov was re-elected for a new term, who a week before had lost the battle for the presidency in BSP-Velingrad. Toma Pachalov remained in this post, which in turn failed to enter the High Council.
Minutes before the start of the congress, the leader of the BSP and Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev personally congratulated Ivan Lebanov on the good performance and dignified behavior at the last mayoral elections in Velingrad.
- Loss in Velingrad and victory in Sofia. How do you explain this, Mr. Lebanov?
- I'm not going to win in Velingrad this year. I think that the status quo was maintained at the municipal party conference and I think this is not a win-win outcome in view of the upcoming presidential elections next year and local elections in less than two years. My vision was that new and more young people should enter the BSP en masse with new ideas and fresh solutions. Both as a party and Velingrad need development, and yet a major political force here is the BSP. Apparently my messages were not understood by the delegates at the conference. But proof that my thesis is correct is that at the BSP Congress changes in the statutes were adopted in this direction: for example, the inclusion in the Supreme Council of delegated members up to the age of 35 to participate in the management of the party. It is no secret that the BSP is an aging party and needs fresh blood, people to respond to the challenges of the new time and under the new conditions.
- Do the changes provide guarantees that the High Council will work better?
- I'm sure! The statute changed on the vision and insistence of Sergey Stanishev. The courage and strength of the young is the engine of society. Therefore, my loss in Velingrad I accept as a race in which there is no winner.
- As a member of the VC you will determine the policy of the BSP in the next 4 years. Do you think that the BSP should lead a center-right policy, as the DPS leader Ahmed Dogan recommended at the congress?
- First of all, I want to thank the people who trusted me to be a delegate to the convention. My choice in the VC is a big responsibility and I will try to justify it. BSP is a social party and in the coalition government protects the social elements: reducing unemployment, raising incomes, social protection in education, health care, people's security. It is these social elements that are inherent in the BSP policy that will stand in this coalition, in which there are supporters of the center-right policy. It will probably be difficult, but we will work so as to justify people's trust in the social protection promised by the BSP.
- You are the only elected member of the VS from Pazardzhik region. From this position will you work for the development of the region and the municipality?
- Sure. The BSP High Council makes important decisions for the development of districts and regions. Indeed, this time, famous politicians at regional level such as Kostadin Kobakov, Slavi Genov, Ivan Genov and others dropped from the composition of the Armed Forces. Congress decided to trust new people and experts in certain areas. I will try to work in the direction of imposing the right policy for the district and to represent the regional interests in the Supreme Court of the BSP. I use the occasion to congratulate the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays to all the people of the municipality and wish them not to lose, but to succeed!
Elena Baeva