Kristian Vigenin with ideas for supporting young people and families, protecting small business and developing staff in the BSP

„We must fight to protect the Bulgarian economy, especially small and medium-sized business, which faces the most problems. Although we are a party that expresses above all the interests of working people, small and start-up business creates jobs and opportunities for young people to build careers, and that is why we need to create a package of measures in its support“. This was stated to members and sympathisers in Yambol by the Deputy Chair of the BSP and head of the Delegation of the Bulgarian Socialists in the EP Kristian Vigenin.

„I want us to do more for the development of staff in the BSP, and not only young people. I am myself grateful that years ago I was given a chance to prove myself in politics. We must develop every member and sympathiser, whatever their age, who has something to give to the country. This is an element of the overall staffing policy that has been missing in the BSP in recent years“, Vigenin proposes.

The candidate for chair of the BSP has an idea to restart the thematic training courses locally so that young staff can develop. Alongside this, he considers it particularly important to build a firm ideological foundation, because everything else follows from it. „We must be the party that defends left policy and has clear positions on all the questions that concern inequalities in society, including on tax policy. I am a supporter of the idea of returning to progressive taxation, this is one of the ways for people with higher incomes to make a greater contribution to society. There must be support for the people who need it most, more funds for young families and for a dignified old age for pensioners“, he pointed out.

Kristian Vigenin will pay more attention to the environment: „Young people are increasingly interested in green policy and this must be one of the emphases in the BSP’s action. Young people understand that preserving clean nature is part of our future as a society. We are in debt in terms of commitment on this topic.“

The candidate for chair will defend the direct election of the chair. „Every member of the party must have the possibility to say who should lead the BSP, and that is why, alongside my ideas for the development of the BSP, I will defend direct election“, he argued.

For Kristian Vigenin the unification of the left is a cause: „Whatever the problems that have arisen in recent days, the united left will exist and will develop, and it will not be simply a mechanical sum of the parties that make it up but will have added value over time, so that every voter who feels themselves to be on the left can vote for that left.“

Zdravko Zlatarov from ABV in Yambol congratulated Vigenin on his ability to unite: „Kristian has contributed most to the unification of the left, and he is active both here and in the European Parliament. He is an example of how left principles are defended and he knows how to conduct a dialogue.“

Hristo Hristov, mayor of Bolyarovo municipality, recalled that he has known Kristian Vigenin since he was very young and that over the years he has always helped the region: „We have worked together for many years. The fact that Yambol region was one of the leading ones by result in parliamentary elections is entirely to his credit. I hope that with his candidacy for chair of the BSP a revival will finally begin, because the problems are many.“

The MP from Yambol Krasimir Yordanov expressed his satisfaction at Vigenin’s decision to stand for chair. In this complex situation for the party and the country, in his view, a politician of exactly Kristian Vigenin’s calibre is needed, experienced, rational and responsible. „Kristian is the right chair for the party. Over four terms as an MP for the area he did a great deal of work for the people here and never broke his link with Yambol. He has defended causes, provided scholarships for school and university students, and helped infrastructure projects to be delivered, with the new hospital largely to his credit. With his experience he has led us forward and has not allowed division. He is morally clean, capable of taking the right decisions, and devoted to the left idea. The BSP and Bulgaria need Kristian Vigenin“, Yordanov pointed out.

Dr Rayno Georgiev, chair of the BSP Municipal Council in Yambol, congratulated Vigenin on starting his campaign from Yambol. „We support him because we want normality to come to the BSP. He is exactly who we need, because he is firmly grounded, and with a smile but also with a firm character he can defend the name of the BSP, and he knows the party very well“, Dr Georgiev said.

Georgi Lekov from the youth organisation in Yambol also stated firm support for Kristian Vigenin’s candidacy, because young people have always received his support for their initiatives and their growth.

Mitko Andonov, chair of the BSP Regional Council in Yambol, highlighted Vigenin’s strengths: „A competent and experienced politician who knows where Bulgaria should be and what action the BSP must take in this situation, which is complex for the country and for Europe. His openness to dialogue and his ability to deliver change give him the chance, if he becomes chair, to revive the BSP.“