Bulgarian Socialists OK Stanishev’s Bid for 2 Term as PES President

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has nominated Sergey Stanishev for a second term in office as President of the Party of European Socialists (PES).

Stanishev, who gave up his BSP Chair seat on Sunday after 13 years at the post, was backed by the majority of delegates at the 48th Congress of BSP and his bid was opposed by one BSP member, with two abstentions.

The delegates also approved an updated version of a position on the crisis in Ukraine. The document says that BSP opposes any sanctions against Russia.

Evgenii Uzunov tried to propose inserting “economic” before “sanctions” in the text but the wording proposed by Svetlana Sharenkova was eventually approved.

BSP also says in its stance that it is in favor of a political settlement of the conflict in Ukraine and against attempts to create division and opposition between the EU and Russia.