BSP is on the verge of electing a new chairman. Which path will the party take and what are the complex compromises in governance? The topic was commented on in the program “Crossroads” on Nova TV by the municipal councilor in the SOS from “BSP - United Left” Ivan Takov, who withdrew from the race for the chairmanship of the centenary.
“Participation in the current government is a great challenge for us. But I want to note that in the Sofia Municipal Council we managed to work on certain priority topics together with GERB and other parties. We have shown and set a good example of how to work for the interests of Sofia residents. I hope, of course, and I am sure that our representatives currently in government will work and fulfill our commitments at the national level and those we have to our voters”, he said.
He also commented on the question of whether the BSP is sacrificing some important ideas in energy for the sake of government, which they have stood behind for years. “This cannot happen. This is one of our election commitments – to preserve and develop nuclear energy in Bulgaria. Things are not complicated with the BSP. The BSP is an extremely predictable partner. It is clear that we have ideological differences and we will always continue to have them. But in this case, with such a complex government in which we find ourselves - both we and the other parties - it is clear that several compromises must be made”.
According to Takov, a government program is currently being prepared. “I know from conversations with our ministers that they have given themselves their priorities in the respective spheres they govern. And I am sure that there will soon be such a management program. We are yet to see it”.
On the subject of adopting the euro, he was categorical that the topic “definitely falls into the compromises column”. “In general, the party's position is not against the euro. Back in 2007, when we were admitted to the European Union, then Sergei Stanishev as Prime Minister signed the accession treaty. The adoption of the euro was, of course, also included at some point. The elementary answer is: ”Yes, let's adopt it. But when we are ready. When will it be? That is not clear”. But anyway, there are an enormous number of challenges in adopting the euro and in my opinion, people are not well enough informed on this topic. And not only the people - in my opinion, the state is not ready either”, emphasized Takov.
He also commented on the election of the BSP chairman and his decision to withdraw from the race. "I want to thank you for the nominations from all over the country that I received. I understand that they are not just a personal preference for me, but rather an assessment of the work that we have done in recent years in Sofia and in the city organization. After the city conference last December, at which I received enormous trust from the delegates - I have a huge responsibility and a 4-year mandate ahead of me. In it, I believe that after we have stabilized the city organization - we must seek to expand its influence. And we have seen that we are able to do it".
"The role of the next BSP chairman will be rather transitional. And I am not referring to a period of time - the mandate is 4 years. Rather, the party is currently in a transitional state - from a leader and one-man style of governance, it must move to collectivity. The BSP has always been strong precisely because of its collective bodies. It has always been collective, but temporarily it had a shameful page for several years, in which it was governed in a way from which we saw the results", he said. He added that the next chairman must step on "healthy and well-functioning structures".