Rock Band Lead Singer to Set Up Civic Movement after Failed Bid for Bulgarian Presidency

Svetoslav Vitkov (right) and Ventsislav Mitsov (left) have said that their participation in the presidential elections "is just the beginning" to a more active participation in political and social life in Bulgaria. Photo by BGNES

Svetoslav Vitkov, lead singer of Bulgarian punk/rock band Hipodil, has said he plans to set up a civic movement.

After presidential candidate Vitkov and his running mate Ventsislav Mitsov ranked 8th among 18 tickets at the October 23 elections, the rock star said that this was only the beginning and that he would start to participate more actively in social and political life in the country.

Vitkov-Mitsov were supported by a total of 54 125 voters at the first round of Bulgaria's "2 in 1" presidential and local elections.

Approached for comment after the October 23 vote, the eccentric candidate for head of state insisted that the 1.61% of support were an undeservedly low score for the cause he and Mitsov stood for.

"Many people say that we attracted voters with anti-establishment feelings. If it is so, then the number of dissatisfied Bulgarians is quite negligible", Vitkov stated late last Sunday.

In a message posted recently on his Facebook account, Vitkov asks his supporters to come up with witty suggestions about the name of the nongovernmental unit he plans to establish.

Vitkov suggests the name GDBOB, an acronym for Civil Movement of Bulgarians Surviving in Bulgaria and a reference to GDBOP, Bulgaria's Chief Directorate "Combating Organized Crime".

Fans of the Facebook website "Svetlyo Vitkov for President" already outnumber 18 300.

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