Atanas Zafirov Elected Chair of Bulgarian Socialist Party

Atanas Zafirov has been elected Chair of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) at the party’s 51st Congress on Sunday. Zafirov, who was acting BSP Chair and Deputy Prime Minister, secured 422 votes, defeating Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov, who received 365 votes, CE Report quotes BTA

In his victory speech, Zafirov emphasized the need for the BSP to reclaim its role as a leading political force. "From now on, the BSP will not have a leader but a chairperson; I am one of you," he told party delegates, highlighting a commitment to collective decision-making.

The Congress also amended the BSP Statute, abolishing the direct election of the party chair and replacing it with selection by Congress. Initially, 17 candidates were in the race, but only nine remained after several withdrawals, including former BSP chair Sergei Stanishev.

Addressing the Congress, Zafirov acknowledged the party’s significant decline in voter support, losing about 770,000 votes since 2017. He attributed this partly to the BSP’s shift away from its core political identity in favor of a liberal urban-right agenda. However, he expressed optimism that recent election results signaled a turning point for the party.

The BSP’s main goal in government, Zafirov stated, is to resolve the political crisis, restore trust in institutions, and strengthen parliamentary democracy. National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova echoed these sentiments, stressing the need to address pressing national concerns such as clean water, energy affordability, and stability in Europe.

As the Congress concluded, party leaders expressed hope for unity and a renewed focus on the issues affecting the Bulgarian people.