“I meet a lot of socialists around the country. We need to listen the party, not go with a megaphone and impose an opinion. I have convinced myself over the years that when the collective party wisdom is given a chance, mistakes rarely occur. There are many active people here who love the left idea, we have to find the right solutions and actively involve everyone in the implementation. I am the only candidate who has presented a program for the development of BSP. It is not a theoretical exercise, but is the result of the concrete problems I have confronted and the answers I have sought. Some of my ideas are not new, but in the past I have not found support for their realization. Now I am ready to assume personal responsibility.”

Kristian Vigenin stressed that years ago BSP was the party with the greatest intellectual potential. “Slowly we brought ourselves to the situation of having a weak presence in the academic circles, among students and young cultural activists, opinion leaders in various professional communities. The attitude towards BSP also depends on who is identifying with it, who is talking about BSP. I suggest to create a network of young scholars, academics, PhD students. We have to create an environment where they can feel as a team and grow together in theï professional and academic  life.”

About his position on the sanctions against Russia and the resolutions of the European Parliament, Vigenin pointed out that he strongly defended his platform with which he was elected and on this topic he is categorical. From the beginning, he has informed his colleagues of the BSP’s positions against sanctions and against the prolongation of the military aid to Ukraine and in support of diplomatic efforts to end the war and achieve lasting peace. “Tsvetelina Penkova and I vote against the resolutions against Russia that are presented every month in the European Parliament. I have fought for our right to have a different opinion from the Group of the Socialists and Democrats. I believe that gradually our arguments will find broader support, especially now, after the change of power in the United States.”, he explained.

Regarding the figure of the BSP chairman and whether he will be able to combine this position as an MEP, Kristian Vigenin stressed that he intends to build a solid team with clearly divided responsibilities and to return the center of decision-making in the party bodies – National Council and Executive Bureau. Thus, in the next Executive Bureau there will be BSP representatives from the executive, MPs and MEPs, mayors and municipal councilors, representatives of horizontal structures. “I see the advantages of the chairman not being a member of the government and not being personally responsible for all the decisions of the cabinet, not being an MP and having to vote with GERB and DPS on a daily basis. I have carefully considered that I can combine my commitments in Brussels with the position of BSP chairman, and in addition, the position in the European Parliament gives me access to a political decision-making level that would otherwise be difficult to reach. It is no coincidence that there are now a number of my colleagues from different political groups who are leaders of national parties, including governing parties. But my responsibility to BSP is first and foremost and I have no hesitation in reconsidering this position if I deem it necessary.”, said the BSP Deputy Chairman.

“The election of the BSP chairman is not a battle, but a competition of ideas, I participate in it to win. I respect each of the candidates, I hope that in the time left until the election we will gather the best ideas and then do what is best for BSP. I will extend my hand to everyone because only if we work together we can build a strong BSP!”, Kristian Vigenin concluded.