Bulgarian Socialist Party Congress Kicks off

The 47th national congress of the Bulgarian Socialist Party opened Saturday morning, with the need to muster the opposition's party strength together high on the agenda.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party was the main force in the tri-partite coalition government that ruled the country 2005-9 but starting the latter part of its term in office it has registered record lows in public support. It is currently the biggest opposition party in Parliament.

At the high forum, party leader and ex-PM Sergey Stanishev is expected to present the priorities and strategies of the socialists for upcoming local and presidential elections in 2011.

Deputy speaker of Parliament Georgi Pirinski will present the socialist's strategic framework "Bulgaria 2020. A European Welfare State."

Delegates to the congress number about 900, with more than 1000 invitees.

The debate about a possible change in party leadership, that has been flaring now and then since general elections 2009, seems to have subsided.

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