Ekaterina Zaharieva or Julian Popov - one of the two will be the next Bulgarian European Commissioner. Their names have already been approved by the Council of Ministers.
The importance of the European post, but also everything happening around the BSP – former prime minister and former chairman of PES and BSP Sergey Stanishev commented to bTV.
He confirmed that it was suggested to him by the BSP that his candidacy for European Commissioner be raised. The initiative was taken by members of the National Council of the party.
His candidacy was supported by all three vice-chairmen of the BSP, but met with resistance in the Executive Bureau because it was read as a political sign - that the BSP was abandoning its "Euroscepticism".
„ This position is important for Bulgaria – firstly for the country's authority and secondly, because in the end, all the policies that happen here, on our territory – be it regional, economic, financial, everything is related to the decisions that are taken in the European Union”, commented Sergey Stanishev.
„It is important who represents us, what authority he has, how competent he is and in what way he can relay these policies between Sofia and Brussels,” he also pointed out.
„I am sure that the vast majority of Bulgarians, regardless of the disappointments that the EU brings, because it is also not perfect and is going through a difficult transformation and has its own challenges, are aware of themselves and their families as part of the union”, said Sergey Stanishev.
„That is why we are interested in the EU overcoming its own crises. The most important thing for the EU is to make the European economy more competitive compared to the US and Chinese economies. To be able to strengthen the common market, to have common prosperity. This is where the efforts of the European Commission will be directed and it will affect all policies. And everything that happens in Bulgaria can use the European tools”, commented the former leader of PES and BSP.
According to him, both Bulgarian candidates have their qualities and “baggage” – both political and administrative.
He wished success at the hearings in the parliament, “because they are not formal“ and noted that we are “severely overdue” with the nominations.
Stanishev pointed out that having a man and a woman among the candidates was Ursula von der Leyen's personal initiative and that most countries did not comply with her request, and that most proposed one candidate.
According to Sergey Stanishev, the final resignation of Cornelia Ninova can lead to a change and a return to the authentic BSP - a complex and large party, wide-open, dialogical, pro-European. But it is possible that this can also be reduced to "Without Nineveh after Nineveh".
"The question is whether the change will be formal or substantive," said the former leader of the party.
Regarding Ninova's exclusion, he pointed out that the decision rests with the plenum and that great care must be taken not to make her a victim.
When asked if he would return to the lists of the BSP, Sergey Stanishev answered that he could do so if he saw a real change in the party, and not one that he imitated.
"It depends on the National Council, for I am available with my clear positions,", noted Sergey Stanishev.
He stated that he would be involved in politics, but only if there was a cause.
According to him, the next parliament will be even more delegitimized.