BTA :: ABV: At a round table “Left Bulgaria
Within the framework of the round table under the title “Left Bulgaria – ideas, policies, unity”, the representatives of the left formations in Bulgaria united on the common Declaration. The document states the urgent need for a broad left front and sets out the main emphases and all compatible work.
· Bulgaria – a factor of peace, security and cooperation in the Balkans and the Black Sea region.
· Education and science for a vibrant solidary society of free and enlightened citizens.
· Universal healthcare.
· Decent work for a vibrant and prosperous nation.
· Fair redistribution of wealth through a new tax system.
· The economic development of the national economic base, formulated as a priority in the conditions of consensus, supported by the state.
· Energy and national security for Bulgaria. Development of the gas transmission network, nuclear and green energy.
· Just Green Transition.
· Fighting the demographic catastrophe with all economic and political measures.
· Strengthening of Bulgarian statehood.
The beginning of the left-wing unification in the NDK brought significant figures, such as the president Georgi Parvanov, the chairman of ABV Rumen Petkov, Maya Manolova from “Stand Up, Bulgaria”, Georgi Kadiev from “Normalna State”, Alexander Tomov from “Bulgarian Social Democracy”, Tatyana Doncheva from “Movement 21”, Simeon Slavchev from MIR, Alexander Paunov from the Communist Party of Bulgaria, Mincho Hristov from “Movement of Non-Party Candidates”, Kostadin Paskalev and Krasimir Karamfilov from the National Council of BSP. The event features well-known socialists, such as Kiril Dobrev, Georgi Pirinski and Angel Naydenov, Svetlana Sharenkova – chairman of the “Bulgaria – Russia” forum.
Within the framework of the Kostadin Pascalev forum, it was established that the idea is to create a working organizational structure that would be able to increase the political representation of the left-wing formations that have fallen into a severe crisis in recent years. “This is not a constituent assembly. There are no pre-decisions. A leader is not elected here,” Pascalev pointed out. And precisely that today’s meeting should start the conversation about the consolidation of the left in Bulgaria.
President Georgi Parvanov emphasized the need for a deep transformation of the left. Without a united left, we will not have serious success, he created and recalled that the country was not on the rise during the periods in which the left ruled or was part of the government. And for general participation in the local elections, you must start working from tomorrow, the president is categorical. “It will be good for the BSP to participate in the left unification, he said.
“At the same time, with the entire BSP, not with individual units, but everything depends on the leadership of Positano.”
Georgi Parvanov also draws attention to Cornelia Ninova’s appeal to those who left the BSP:
“I am obliged to remind the then composition of the National Council (of the BSP) that on January 7, 2014, by a decision of the National Council, we were expelled from the party against the statute.”
Parvanov is categorical about the need to form a strong coalition that relies on mutual respect. He himself indicated that he has no personal claims, and his only desire is to create a quality new political entity that is operational, profitable and promising.
The chairman of ABV Rumen Petkov provides the importance of today’s forum for the Bulgarian left, in general. However, he emphasizes the enormous importance of today’s requests and intentions of the left formations to be clothed in tomorrow’s action. Otherwise, the effect will be catastrophic. He defined as “dishonest” the suggestion that changes and reforms in the BSP are needed first, and only then unification processes on the left. Bulgaria needs this process because Bulgaria needs a strong and meaningful left. Today, the challenge before us is huge, said Rumen Petkov.
During the round table, the participants united around the opinion that there should be equality and partnership between the parties in their common work.
Trust in the left is in resuscitation, the leader of “Stand Up Bulgaria” Maya Manolova presented. According to her, Bulgaria is alive, and Bulgarian citizens need a social alternative and politics. “Today’s gathering is a step in the right direction. The agenda of the left will return to the problems of ordinary people,” Manolova said.
“Politics is a competition for liking. It’s not fair, it’s not always the best way to get more trust,” said Tatyana Doncheva. It is explicitly stated that with the current leadership of the BSP, unification cannot be sought. Georgi Kadiev emphasizes that without the BSP the left unity will be weak.
Valery Zablyanov made an attempt to summarize the concept of left-wing politics and to emphasize that it cannot be reduced to “submitting the state”. He pointed out that it is necessary to move towards economic policy, which is no longer available today, and also listed – “policy of production, association, if someone wants to call it cooperation”.
In addition to well-known figures from the left political space, the round table “Left Bulgaria – ideas, policies, unity” brought together representatives of academia, eminent scientists, citizens, sympathizers of the participating formations.