“For these almost 20 years you have fully deserved your key role in BSP and in Bulgaria – as an inspiring factor, generator of ideas and corrective. Thank you for your enthusiasm, combativeness and creativity. In the most difficult moments for BSP you have been the core stone for the development of ideas how to transform and strengthen the party.” stated Kristian Vigenin, Deputy Chairman of BSP and Head of the Delegation of the Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament, at the VII National Conference of the Union of Socialists Women.

He pointed out that their mission to preserve the unity of BSP, to consolidate it as a serious factor in politics and to restore its international image as a modern socialist party is special.

Kristian Vigenin highlighted the Union’s initiatives and campaigns: to protect women on the labour market and to overcome the pay gap with men; to fight poverty and unemployment; to improve access to health care; to improve qualifications and lifelong learning; to support young families and children; to address the demographic crisis; to fight domestic violence and violence in all its forms. He assured that these issues would be a priority for the BSP representatives in the European Parliament and should also be on the government’s agenda.

“It is important what kind of modern, new image of the left we will build now. It is crucial to continue to invest in the support of young people, families, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, to create conditions for the introduction of innovations in various sectors.” Vigenin stressed.

He outlined the challenges: “We owe the socialists, our voters, and Bulgaria a strong and united left. We must adapt our goals and policies to the realities. We need to demonstrate transparent and honest politics towards citizens, without any dependencies and with a strong intolerance of corruption. Care for the various social groups must be backed up by concrete, implemented measures, so that we maintain a livе relation with them.”

Vigenin raised the issue of the balance of gender representation in the socio-political and economic life. “Two days ago a government was sworn with only one woman. I personally do not remember such an anomaly in my conscious life. Therefore, as Dora Yankova rightly pointed out at the BSP National Assembly, the next steps in staffing the executive power must compensate  this as much as possible. If it is up to me, we must also achieve equal representation of men and women in the next Executive Bureau of BSP. And not only because this has been at the heart of our policy since the very beginning of BSP, but primarily  because our party and our society need the competence, the carefulness, the dedication of the Bulgarian woman.”, the BSP Deputy Chairman noted.