site.btaUPDATED Campaign Highlights: Sept. 5

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) opened its election campaign in Lovech by presenting its MP candidates for the constituency at the Nauka 1870 community centre. MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi said Bulgaria has been in a political crisis for two years now. His party calls for overcoming the political crisis, for creating an environment for dialogue and for agreement on nationally important problems. "We hold the experience, the key for solving the problems," he said.

* * *

Continue the Change Co-leader Assen Vassilev and his party's candidates for parliament running in the constituency met and talked with members of the public and supporters in Pazardzhik (South Central Bulgaria). He listed the measures taken by the government in which he was deputy prime minister and finance minister to facilitate child rearing and to fight what he called "the feudal corruption model". "I promise that all these steps will continue after October 2 and, step by step, we will reclaim the State," Vassilev said.

* * *

Bulgarian Rise discussed political subjects and economic solutions to crises at a conference in Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria). The party's Chairman Stefan Yanev argued that it is time to seek an alternative to liberal globalism "which has impoverished many countries. "In my opinion, the solution is a return to conservatism in the sense of law and order, rules, national traditions related to lifestyle, spirituality, faith and culture," Yanev pointed out. In the words of ABV leader Rumen Petkov, his party's coalition with Bulgarian Rise can show the common interest and the tools of defending it.

* * *

GERB-UDF top-of-the-list candidate in Haskovo, South Central Bulgaria, Delyan Dobrev recalled that under the last Boyko Borissov Cabinet, funds were allocated for the replacement of 6 km of water conduits, nearly BGN 5 for a new park, asphalting streets in the town and the nearby villages, the Mladost Stadium. If GERB is voted back in power, the blocked projects for Haskovo, including a ring road, the water cycle and street surfacing, will go ahead, Dobrev added. "Even the most gifted and capable ministers will find it difficult to steer Bulgaria out of this crisis," he added.

* * *

Democratic Bulgaria Alliance launched its election campaign in the northern town of Lovech by presenting its list of MP candidates running in the constituency. Talking with citizens in Svoboda Square, top-of-the-list candidate Bozhidar Bozhanov said that the coalition stands firmly behind Bulgaria's Euro-Atlantic orientation and the future government's counter-corruption policy. He also said that Democratic Bulgaria's partnership with Continue the Change is beyond doubt, the other participants in a possible ruling coalition will be determined by voters.

* * *

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) called on the caretaker ministers and prime minister, President Rumen Radev and the media not to circulate unchecked and manipulative allegations. Georgi Svilenski said that such information about arms export to Ukraine and exporting money to Dubai was made public last week and was refuted by caretaker Economy Minister Nikola Stoyanov himself. Earlier on Monday, BSP leader Korneliya Ninova said on Facebook that she had filed four libel suits in connection with allegations that arms had been exported to Ukraine while she was minister of economy and industry.

* * *

The sequence of the campaign highlights featured in this report follows the ballot numbers of the 29 contestants in the October 2 snap parliamentary elections.