Andrey Gyurov’s Presidential Bid to Be Announced Within Days?

“There is an expectation within the democratic community that Andrey Gyurov will declare his candidacy. This will most likely happen in the coming days,” Atanas Atanasov, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and MP from Democratic Bulgaria, said on the morning show Hello, Bulgaria.

According to Atanasov, the delay surrounding Gyurov’s candidacy does not mean that the initiative has failed. “The mechanism through which this will happen has changed,” he commented. He explained that more than a year ago, at his initiative, a broadly representative format was established to seek a mechanism for nominating a unified candidate of the democratic forces.

“Now the process is developing in a different way,” Atanasov said. He added that preparations are already underway for the creation of an initiative committee, as well as a plan for conducting the campaign.

According to Atanasov, the main goal is to mobilize the pro-European democratic community. “This is the only way to counter this concentration of red power in Bulgaria,” he stated.

Asked whether the delay in Gyurov’s candidacy creates a risk of splitting votes among different candidates from the democratic community, Atanasov said he expects Gyurov to assume responsibility.

“The information I have is that the expectation of the democratic community is for Gyurov to take responsibility. Most likely, this will happen and he will become a unifying figure,” the Democratic Bulgaria MP emphasized.

Regarding whether the democratic forces would seek support from GERB if Gyurov decides to run, Atanasov said this is not a matter for the parties to decide, but for the candidate himself.

“That is the job of the nominee, who will run as an independent candidate,” the Democratic Bulgaria MP stressed. He added that the parties that have already declared support for the candidacy are ready to act, but “from the second line.”