Ex-PM Stanishev Only Bidder to Chair Bulgarian Socialist Party

On Friday Bulgarian Socialists adopted a declaration that admitted their defeat in the last elections, and stated the crisis of the party may become "irreversible". Incumbent Stanishev is the only bidder to chair the party befor Sunday's congress. Photo b

The acting Chair of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, former Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev, is the only bidder for his current position before the party congress scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 2009.

This has been announced by Korneliya Ninova, the Spokesperson of the BSP, after Friday's plenum of the party which was held as a preparation of Sunday's congress.

However, Ninova did point out that other candidates to Chair the Socialist Party could appear during the party congress, and that a debate and elections could be organized on the spot.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party decided to call up its emergency 47th Congress after it was defeated in the July Parliamentary Elections by the GERB party led by then Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov.

Stanishev has been under fire for not resigning the Chair position. However, he has made his intention to leave the decision of keeping him as a leader to the party congress.

During Friday's plenum the National Council of the BSP adopted a draft declaration admitting the party's defeat in the July Parliamentary Elections, and a deep crisis that might turn out to be "irreversible". The declaration is to be voted on by the Party Congress on Sunday.