Iliana Iotova names Kiril Valchev as running mate in presidential election

“I present to you Mr Kiril Valchev – a lawyer, a man of the law, and a public figure”, With these words, President Iliana Iotova announced the Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) as her running mate for the upcoming presidential election in October.

Iliana Iotova made the announcement to journalists before the start of a concert at Bulgaria Hall marking the opening of the new season of the Sofia Philharmonic.

“The vice president must have an in-depth knowledge of the country’s laws and know how the Bulgarian state functions. For many years, we have shared a common cause: preserving Bulgarian identity, developing the Bulgarian spirit, safeguarding our written language and our alphabet,” Iliana Iotova said. She also highlighted their shared commitment to working with Bulgarian communities abroad to help preserve and protect them.

For his part, Kiril Valchev said that he had not sought to become a candidate for vice president. “I accept President Iotova’s invitation as recognition not of me personally, but of BTA – an institution of consensus, communication among Bulgarians around the world and remembrance. This is also recognition for all of you, for the Bulgarian media, which provide a space for presenting Bulgaria in all its diversity”, he added.

Edited by Diana Tsankova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov