Kristian Vigenin in Burgas: They are trying to erase history, we must preserve the memory of anti-fascism

„We have no right to waste the party’s strength on internal confrontation. Let us close the conflicts, channel our strength in a positive direction and bring together people who can contribute to the growth of the BSP. I have an idea to attract professionals into shaping the party’s policy, we need solutions that are realistic and applicable“, the candidate for chair of the BSP urged at a meeting with socialists in Burgas. He warned that dependencies and suspicions of corruption must not be allowed, because people will not forgive them.

„We can mobilise and make the BSP an effective party that presses its own policies. Together we can reform the party from within and come out of government stronger“, Vigenin expressed his conviction. He explained that he is the only candidate for chair who has published his programme for changing the BSP, and that its main points are being discussed at his meetings with socialists across the country.

Scientists, culture and the memory of anti-fascism

Kristian Vigenin outlined the need to broaden the BSP’s influence in academic and cultural circles: „We can create a network of academics and representatives of creative circles that would be a centre for the exchange of ideas and for discussion. It is important for the BSP to open up to this rich national resource, because this is another opportunity to contribute to the development of our country.“ He is also ready to restart the training courses for young people in the BSP and to give them more responsibilities.

The manifestations of neo-fascism in society are worrying, Kristian Vigenin believes. That is why he proposes that the BSP undertake an initiative for the preservation of the anti-fascist monuments. „We must single out at least one such monument in each region and restore it, in connection with the 80th anniversary of the victory over Hitlerite fascism. Systematic opposition to neo-fascist movements is a responsibility for us. We need to recognise the faces of contemporary fascism and neutralise them with constructive initiatives. Some political forces want to remove the monuments in order to erase our history and our memory. We cannot let them do it!“, the Deputy Chair of the BSP emphasised.

Direct election of the party leader

Kristian Vigenin said he had been a supporter of the direct election of the party chair even before it was introduced in the BSP, because he had seen its positive effect in other European left parties. „It is not good to take this right away, the voice of every socialist matters. All the more so as we are in a direct election procedure, and cancelling it would create a legal problem for a possible appeal against the chair elected by the congress“, he warned. On the figure of the future chair, Vigenin believes it should be a person who can protect the party’s face and keep it at a certain distance from the government.

„I am entering the race for chair of the BSP in order to win it. What is needed is a person with governing, party and parliamentary experience, who knows the problems and proposes hard-won solutions“, the Deputy Chair of the party concluded to the packed hall. A man of his word and a man of honour, this is how some of the people taking part in the meeting described Kristian Vigenin. They recalled specific actions by Vigenin as an MP, such as the defence of the livestock farmers in Bolyarovo. His thorough work in resolving public cases and problems was highlighted.