Bulgaria's Top Presidential Runner Not Allowed into Germany - Opponent

Atanas Semov, conservative Law, Order and Justice party's presidential candidate. Photo by BGNES

Centrist-right GERB candidate Rosen Plevneliev, Bulgaria's top presidential hopeful, has been banned from entering Germany, his opponent, Atanas Semov from the controversial conservative Law, Order and Justice party, has hinted.

Presenting his accusations as questions, Semov stated German officials have put a black stamp in Rosen Plevneliev's passport because of his alleged wrongdoings in the country.

"Is there a ban imposed on Rosen Plevneliev to enter Germany and what kind of ban – a black stamp or another measure?, " Semov "rhetorically" asked on Friday. He implied that Iris International, a company founded by Plevneliev in 1990, has violated Germany's labor legislation.

Iris International, founded in 1990, was the first Bulgarian construction firm to get an ISO 9001 certificate. Between 1991 and 1998, Plevneliev worked in Germany as the co-owner of a construction firm that worked as a subcontractor for Lindner, at the Lindner headquarters in Germany.

In his speech on Friday, Semov also compared Plevneliev, who was ruling GERB's Regional Development Minister, to pop star Madonna, explaining he believed his popularity was the result of aggressive PR activities.

"Jokingly said, even his initials spell PR " Semov remarked.

Plevneliev was the Minister with the highest approval rating before he stepped down from office to run for President. He is also the most likely winner of the elections, scheduled for October 23.

On Friday, Semov further vowed his party would reveal everything it knows about the presidential candidates' past. We want Plevneliev to answer our questions so that we won't have to do it.

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