Vigenin in Gotse Delchev: BSP should stand by its ideas in government and place its people locally

“BSP has to make better use of its people in government. Through our participation in the cabinet we are to a large extent defending and carrying out the social policies we came into power intending to pursue.” This was stated by Bulgarian MEP and member of the BSP Executive Bureau Kristian Vigenin at a meeting in Gotse Delchev with socialists and supporters of the left. He held an open conversation with them about Bulgaria priorities in Europe and the challenges at home.

In the packed hall of the town Culture House, Vigenin presented the main highlights of his work in the European Parliament, focusing on legislation related to improving healthcare, access to medicines and providing health systems with the staff they need. He also drew attention to the series of legislative initiatives for which he is the socialists rapporteur in the EP, related to simplifying regulatory requirements, reducing the administrative burden for small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy. He stressed the good coordination between BSP representatives in the executive and in the European Parliament, communication that helps resolve questions of national importance. “A main task in the coming months will be our work on the new seven-year European budget. Together with Tsvetelina Penkova we are planning a conference in Sofia on this topic, to try to align the Bulgarian positions and defend them at all levels,” the Bulgarian MEP said, adding that with his work in the EP he is consistently carrying out the election platform he was elected on a year ago.

A number of questions were also raised in the discussion about the current political situation in Bulgaria and the role of BSP. Participants in the meeting said the party should defend its representatives more firmly and stand by its views on how the country is run. In reply, Vigenin stressed that BSP people need to move more noticeably into the regional branches of the state administration, so the party can carry out its ideas more effectively. The adoption of the state budget for 2026, in his words, is an opportunity for BSP to defend its policy and show that it carries real weight as part of the governing majority.

Among the topics discussed was the situation with Lukoil Neftohim Burgas. Vigenin said Bulgaria has to insist on a joint position within the EU and strengthen the institutional dialogue with the United States, since the sanctions imposed may hit Bulgaria harder than Russia. He also highlighted the possibility for the state to acquire ownership of the refinery, because it is a strategic asset for the energy security of the country.

Answering a question about the influence of Delyan Peevski, Vigenin said that the current cabinet relies on the support of DPS, which is obvious. He added that the excessive focus on the figure of Peevski is aimed at destabilising the government and undermining its legitimacy. It does not reflect the real balance of forces and his actual role in the political process, even though he himself uses this to keep up the legend around himself as an unavoidable factor in the country.

The meeting was hosted by the mayor of Gotse Delchev municipality and member of the BSP Executive Bureau Vladimir Moskov, the BSP regional chair for Blagoevgrad and deputy mayor of the municipality Valeri Sarandev, and the chair of the Municipal Council and of the BSP municipal organisation Ivan Gerov, and the chairs of BSP municipal councils from the Blagoevgrad region also took part in it.