Bulgarian Left-Wing MEP Reiterates 'No Traitor' Stance

Bulgarian MEP Ivaylo Kalfin reiterated Wednesday morning that he was no traitor over his decision to join the alternative left-wing ballot for the European elections in May.

Kalfin confirmed a day earlier that an alternative left-wing project will take part in the upcoming EU elections. The Alternative for Bulgarian Renaissance (ABV) movement of former left-wing President Georgi Parvanov will endorse its own MEP candidates. Kalfin, a former Foreign Minister (2005-2009), is to head ABV's EU election list.

Key Bulgarian Socialist Party officials condemned Parvanov and Kalfin as "traitors."

"My decision to lead ABV ballots is not a betrayal of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). Our opponent is not BSP, but the way this country is ruled," Kalfin told Nova TV Thursday morning.

He noted that the rhetoric of the Socialist leaders was a reminiscence of Stalinism from the 60' of the last century and that he has ended his commitment to the party.

"Looking back in history, I see how BSP finally found its archenemy. The appointment of Delyan Peevski is the stark example of what drained the trust in this government," the MEP added.

Regarding ABV's funding, he stated it was not so big at the moment.

The so-called Peevski case moved to the center of Bulgarian political life June 14, 2013, when Parliament unexpectedly elected the back bench liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms MP as chair of Bulgaria's powerful State Agency for National Security (DANS).

That same day, thousands walked out in protest on the streets of Bulgarian capital Sofia, demanding the resignation of the BSP-endorsed government of Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, over outrage at the election of a person alleged to sustain murky business ties and known to control a powerful media group.

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