Balgarianovinite.com Atanas Zafirov has resigned as Chair of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), announcing his decision at the party’s 51st Congress on Saturday.
“Today I am taking a step back. I am giving up the position of first among equals that you entrusted to me, but this does not mean I am withdrawing from politics or distancing myself from responsibility,” Zafirov said. He stressed that he was submitting his resignation not because he rejects what has been achieved, but because he does not want to take part in a process that would deepen divisions within the party.
Zafirov said that he was proud of the results achieved during his one year at the helm of BSP and added that he would continue to defend these achievements, whether as party leader or as a rank-and-file member. According to him, the key issue facing BSP is not the leadership question, but the party’s future path.
“Today BSP is under pressure, under doubt and under question,” Zafirov said, warning against quick and drastic solutions that merely postpone internal crises without addressing their causes. He argued that repeated leadership changes over the years have failed to provide long-term stability, while the party’s electoral base has steadily shrunk amid profound global and domestic changes.
Zafirov acknowledged that BSP has remained focused primarily on social policy, but noted that a modern social state cannot exist without a clear economic vision and industrial policy. He said that the party has not been sufficiently convincing in this area and included himself in that criticism.
Referring to BSP’s participation in government, Zafirov said the decision was a conscious and difficult choice made in a context of deep institutional crisis, blocked governance and political instability. He argued that participation in power allowed BSP to defend social policies, incomes and basic stability, and prevented the formation of a hardline right-wing government.
Zafirov said that under his leadership the party had achieved stabilization, addressed severe financial problems, reduced internal tensions and re-entered the left political space as a unifying force. He noted that BSP had overcome the risk of financial collapse, ensured participation in elections, supported party structures and preserved the party newspaper Duma.
He emphasized that the current BSP leadership has no hidden dependencies or backstage arrangements. “Our only dependency has been on the interest of the state and the meaning of participating in power only when it truly serves the people and the cause of BSP,” he said.
Zafirov concluded that BSP is facing upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections and needs full mobilization, as well as a clear strategic vision. “The leadership question is not the most important one before BSP today. The most important question is the path,” he said, adding that he would not be an obstacle to finding that path but would remain active in helping the party define its future direction. Atanas Zafirov Resigns as BSP Chair 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-07 13:21:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law