/ world today news/ – In the 126-year-old BSP, there is no precedent for a former leader to return to the helm.
– The German elections proved that grand coalitions harm and sharply reduce support for systemic parties.
– By the European elections in 2019, the left must understand its weaknesses and mistakes and manage to catch up.
– Mr. Pargov, why did the left lose another election in Europe – the one in Germany? The EU is in crisis, but the left is still not recognized as an alternative, why?
– We all waited with great hope for the elections in Germany. Because the big question – a fourth term with Chancellor Merkel or the revival of the GSDP – was also key for the future of Europe. Unfortunately, our hopes and expectations were not met. The result of the German elections means only one thing – the “Merkel” model, which catalyzed crises in Europe, will continue to operate.
This raises questions about the place of the left and why, despite the economic and financial crisis, it has failed to generate public support. The answer is that from the existence of the grand coalition in Germany, which was announced in the name of prosperity and overcoming difficulties, it was mostly the left who lost. And far-right formations are on the rise. Grand coalitions harm and sharply reduce support for systemic parties. I say this because parallels can be drawn in almost every EU country, including Bulgaria. Obviously, this will not benefit either the BSP or Bulgaria.
What happened in Germany should be taken into account because for the first time in post-war history, a far-right nationalist formation will be present in the Bundestag. This trend started from other countries – France, Great Britain, Holland, Austria. But after the result in Germany – the heart and locomotive of Europe, we can distinguish it as durable. The fusion of neoliberal philosophy and neofascist manifestations in the EU and in other parts of Europe such as Ukraine is worrying.
– How will this next loss affect PES – voices are already being heard for Stanishev’s resignation?
– Obviously, after such a loss, it is necessary to make an analysis and look for answers at all levels – regionally, nationally, and at the European level. The left in Europe must find the path that will lead us to increase our influence and importance. This will enable us to influence and decide the future of the EU in the interest of the people.
Yes, we leftists experienced more than one or two losses, including in Bulgaria. Obviously, the discussion at the PES level should also start, because the result of the elections in Germany shows a trend in the development of the political model in Europe. By the European elections in 2019, the left must understand its weaknesses and mistakes and manage to catch up. This also applies to the BSP as part of the European left family. Then it will be the big clash between the two philosophies and visions of how and in what direction to continue to go and how to develop Europe.
Until then, we on the left need to make it clear to the people what we want. Will the Old Continent allow itself to be made the world’s backyard, or will it retain its place as the cradle of civilization?
– There is little left until the end of Stanishev’s mandate in the PES – can he make an attempt to return to the head of the BSP?
– So far in our history, there is no such precedent – for a former chairman to return to the head of the BSP. And the history of the party is 126 years old.
– Is Cornelia Ninova doing well as a leader? Has the party taken control after the tremors with Gergov?
– The assessment of the leader’s work is given according to the statute every 4 years by those who have chosen him. And the party gets an evaluation in elections. According to the BSP rules, the chairman nominates the team with which he will lead, and the National Council chooses it. Even before this incident, there were changes in the Executive Bureau during Ninova’s tenure, and no one called them tremors.
– However, Gergov became an informal leader of the internal opposition in BSP – do you expect him to take a clear step in the direction of legitimizing his wing or current?
– Since the time of the narrow and broad socialists in our party, it has been accepted as normal to have an internal debate. This is also the strength of the BSP. There were periods when staring at the “navel” displaced the important thing – where Bulgaria is going and where is our place on this path. Now we are not in such a situation.
There are different views. And here is the place of the leadership to see the differences, summarize the opinions and find the right direction – for the benefit of the state. A wing or a doll – this is a comedy, not an option for the party, which has the potential and the claim to give a perspective for a better life to the Bulgarians.
– As the leader of the largest red structure, what is your place – closer to Cornelia or to Gergov?
– The Sofia organization is not only the largest, but also the leading one – it is the vanguard of the BSP. We invest all our intellectual potential to realize the policies, goals and tasks we have committed to the people, especially the people of Sofia. The battle for Sofia and for the interests of the people is constant.
– The BSP faces a tough fight in the parliament over the anti-corruption law – what is your strategy?
– The clash is about the future of Bulgaria. Corruption is a consequence of a bigger problem – poverty. According to the new report of the World Economic Forum on global competitiveness in Bulgaria, the factor that is traditionally extremely unfavorable is the state of the institutions. The worst indicator of doing business is corruption, followed by inefficient management bureaucracy.
But the discussion of the 2018 budget is yet to come. BSP will give an alternative budget, which we will discuss by region beforehand. The leading topics are income, education, security, economy. People want clarity about what’s coming. And the rulers usually beat the budget with two midnight meetings before Christmas. Cynicism we will not put up with. What they usually propose is a restrictive and conservative policy, with loans or European funds. So the clash for Bulgaria’s tomorrow is coming through the prism of the annual budget.
– President Radev is criticized for some of his moves – including visits like this one to the USA. Does he take advice from BSP?
– During the first year of his mandate, the president has no controversial visits. His raid started from Brussels and NATO. His participation in the UN session and his meetings, including with Bulgarians in the USA, are also indisputable. His speeches and words are precise and specific. And as for the BSP – he accepted the advice: “Be president of the whole of Bulgaria!” And he was not wrong.
– I am specifically referring to two meetings of Radev – the one with Poroshenko, when he said that there would be no problem with the Bulgarian minority, and then Ukraine adopted the law against the mother tongue. As well as the one with Clinton – it was defined as a blunder against the current US President Trump.
– These two case studies show only one thing – obviously the president needs to refine his team. Every foreign policy statement and meeting must be analyzed in advance – what is the purpose, what will it bring and what will be the response.
– There was talk that the rulers might initiate the impeachment of Radev – is there a chance?
– This is rather part of the fireworks that GERB is launching against the president. In their desire to tame him and lower his high rating. The fact is that Rumen Radev is already statesman #1. They spew lies, then they apologize, then they spew again… If we follow the constitution, there is no legal and factual circumstance for such an action. And even if there is such a hypothesis, what will GERB achieve: Iliana Yotova – president?
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* Kaloyan Pargov:
- He was born on July 13, 1977 in Plovdiv
- He graduated from the Second English Language High School. He received his higher education at UNSS with a major in “International Relations”. He holds a Master’s degree in “European Integration”
- He is an assistant at the Higher School of Insurance and Finance.
- Chairman of the BSP City Council – Sofia
- Municipal councilor and head of the left group in the Metropolitan Municipal Council
- Member of the Party’s Executive Bureau
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