Bulgarian Top Cop Confirms August Deadline for GERB Presidential Bid

Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, says the late disclosure of the name of his party's candidate for president is OK because they are considering a well-known personality. Photo by BGNES

The ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party will score a convincing victory at the upcoming presidential and local elections.

The statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, in a Monday interview for the private TV channel bTV.

Tsvetanov said the only likely GERB adversary to reach a possible second round at the presidential elections is the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, but the race will be won by GERB with 60:40.

The Minister declined stating any particular names of nominees from his party, but was adamant they are considering three dignified individuals.

Tsvetanov further insisted the late announcement of the politician to run for president on the GERB ballot would not be disadvantageous to the voters, because it would be a well-known personality.

Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, said Sunday the deadline to reveal the name is August, pushing the previous one (July) with another month.

His Deputy forecasted Monday Bulgaria's first and former EU Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, would not have much success in the presidential race because she would run as independent.

Tsvetanov further dismissed reports GERB would ask for popular Bulgarian actor and former Culture Minister from the BSP quota, Stefan Danailov, to be taken out of the hit TV series "Glass House," currently running on bTV, if he decides to also enter the race.

The Minister announced GERB would honor the rule of the Constitutional Court to have a 6-month permanent residency requirement for voters in local elections, instead of 12, as it was written in the recently passed Election Code.

Regarding the last Europol report on Bulgaria's fight against organized crime, seen by the opposition as slamming, Tsvetanov was adamant all criticism inside had been generated by the good work of the country's police.

"The Europol experts were directed to the port of Varna as a point for transit of illegal drugs and human trafficking after we conducted several successful operations there. The report is objective, giving each EU Member State the opportunity to define its priorities," the Minister declared.