site.btaStanishev: Support at PES Congress is Success for Both BSP and Bulgaria

Stanishev: Support at PES Congress is Success for Both BSP and Bulgaria

Sofia, June 15 (BTA) - Sergei Stanishev said the support he
received at the congress of the Party of European Socialists
(PES) last week was a recognition of his work, as well as a
success for both his party, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP),
and Bulgaria. Speaking at a briefing at the BSP headquarters on
Monday, he thanked its Chairman Mihail Mikov and the party for
supporting his campaign for re-election as PES President.

He said that the BSP's big efforts to gain European legitimacy
had made it possible for a Bulgarian to become the PES leader.

Stanishev said that in the three years since he became PES
President, the party grew stronger. Now it has 11 prime
ministers, while it used to have three. Its group in the
European Parliament is stable, while the European People's Party
lost 50 seats. PES should start creating all the necessary
mechanisms to win the Europeans' confidence in 2019, he said.
Power is not an end in itself for the Socialists, who want to
win elections to be able to change the EU. He spoke about a need
of change in Europe. Mechanisms are needed to guarantee the
future of children in Europe, he said.

BSP Chairman Mihail Mikov said a transparent, motivated campaign
led to Stanishev's successful re-election, which is a success
for the BSP, Bulgaria and the future of left-wing Europe. He
told Stanishev: "We will continue supporting you. We will
continue to insist that what you did about youth unemployment
should become a fact in Bulgaria as well; we will support you
about the child guarantee mechanism and the elaboration of a
European democracy index."

Regarding Bulgaria's local elections this autumn, Stanishev said
that no campaign or election had a pre-determined outcome. He
encouraged the BSP candidates, saying that Bulgaria needs a
strong social alternative. Injustice in Bulgaria is deepening,
so the BSP's mission is to work for the revival of hope, he
said.

Asked if he would run for president in Bulgaria, Stanishev said
that he had no ambition for a career in his country. He also
said he had received congratulations on his re-election from
various parties. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov was among the
first to call him, and President Rosen Plevneliev also sent
congratulations.