Bulgarian PM: Interior Minister Is My Candidate for President

Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, says the presidential elections will be a "battle for a European vision for Bulgaria." Photo by BGNES

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, has been Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov's top choice to be nominated for president.

The statement was made by Borisov, in an interview for the TV channel Nova Televizia Sunday evening, hours after he announced the nomination for president of his ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party - Regional Minister, Rosen Plevneliev, and the nomination for vice president, Justice Minister, Margarita Popova.

"I had my mind set on Tsvetanov one year ago. He is my candidate. But when we talked about priorities, I told him I needed him as a member of the cabinet and he understood and agreed," Borisov said, adding he admired the loyalty and the hard work of the Interior Minister.

The PM explained that among all Ministers Tsvetanov is the only one to be a prominent GERB member and activist while all other true party members are Members of the Parliament.

The country's leader pointed out GERB were all convinced Plevneliev and Popova are the most independent candidates for the presidential office in Bulgaria and will be excellent once they get it. He stressed on the fact Plevneliev has highest approval ratings than Borisov himself, both as PM and as Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry years ago.

"I need a president and a vice president who will speak only the truth and these two will. I also need a literate person, who knows what he will cause to the country when talking about increasing income. In addition, both are very respected and very well accepted in Brussels. Bulgarian people love them. They are the only ones to tell me straight in the face when they disagree with me. They are what I want to see – a modern, organized State with good infrastructure and environmental consciousness" Borisov declared.

Regarding nominations of other parties such as the now-independent candidate, Meglena Kuneva – Bulgaria's first EU Commissioner, formerly from the party of ex King and PM, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, National Movement for Stability and Prosperity, NMSP, the candidate of the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Member of the European Parliament and ex Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivaylo Kalfin, and the candidate of the conservative Order, Law and Justice, RZS, party, Atanas Semov, the PM said all were "European politicians" and the presidential elections will be a "battle for a European vision for Bulgaria."

"However, Meglena Kuneva was Brussels' person in Bulgaria while Plevneliev will be Bulgaria's man in Brussels," Borisov concluded.

The PM further pointed out that the utmost priority and goal of GERB is to win the next general elections and have a second term in office.

"I now want everyone to stop asking me about the next elections at least for 5 years. But I know in one year they will start asking again. I never changed my mind, but after 5 years, I could change it and remain Prime Minister," Borisov said in the interview.

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