Bulgaria's Outgoing President Freezes ABV Movement until after Elections

Outgoing President Georgi Parvanov's post-election plans include a return to BSP and a resumption of activity of the ABV civic movement. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The Alternative for Bulgarian Renneisance (ABV) movement, launched by President Georgi Parvanov in November 2010, will stay frozen throughout the upcoming local elections.

According to an announcement of Parvanov, ABV has not put forth mayoral nominations, and if any of the founders of the movement decides to run for city office, it will be a personal initiative.

Bulgaria's current head of state, whose second term in office expires in January 2012, has said that the civic movement will return to activity once voting ends.

According to Parvanov, a former leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) in the period 1996-2001, the left-wing formation will take both personal and collective responsibility in the case of a loss in October.

ABV was founded in mid-November 2010, with Parvanov stating that the project would be a laboratory for alternative ideas where participants seek solutions from a different perspective than party ideology.

"We unite around the idea of a revival of the Bulgarian nation which comes through reconciliation. ABV is a territory of historical compromise", Parvanov stated, refuting allegations that the movement would turn into a political party.

Bulgaria's outgoing head of state, a former MP and Chair of BSP, has said that he plans to return to the left-wing party, thereby reinforcing the party and opening it to new partners.

According to publications in Bulgarian media, he aspirates to regain the leadership spot.

Sergey Stanishev, leader of the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), has responded that he would be glad to welcome Parvanov back to his political formation.

"I am happy that Presdident Georgi Parvanov has chosen to return to BSP after his term ends, even though he has said contradicting things throughout the years," Stanishev said Tuesday, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.

"I have stated several times that the most normal development for him after his term ends is to rejoin BSP," he added.

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