GERB leader Borissov urges right-wing parties to unite for presidential vote

Candidates from individual right-wing parties stand no chance in the upcoming presidential election unless the democratic right unites, GERB leader Boyko Borissov told reporters. He said the party was still considering different options for taking part in the vote.

“There are about ten days left for common sense to prevail, so that the entire right can stand against the left,” Borissov said. Otherwise, he added, Iliana Iotova might as well be congratulated now.

According to the GERB leader, this presidential election is different from previous ones. He said the incumbent president would be nominated by an initiative committee and backed by the governing Progressive Bulgaria party. Former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gyurov, the likely candidate of We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, would also be nominated by an initiative committee and would then seek broader support.

GERB MP Delyan Dobrev, one of the party’s prominent figures, said GERB should field its own candidate.

“If Gyurov is supposed to be the candidate who unites the right, no one from GERB will vote for him.”

Dobrev said three figures could take responsibility for GERB’s presidential bid: Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov, GERB Deputy Chair Tomislav Donchev and former prime minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.

Editor: Diana Tsankova