Two generals, a former deputy governor of Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) and a basketball coach are standing for the post of Sofia mayor, the top prize in the October 28 local elections.
Again, as before, all eyes are turned to the race in the capital, because all parties tend to use it as proof of their popularity among the people countrywide.
GERB
The first nomination that was announced was not a surprise. Current mayor Boiko Borissov will try to earn Sofians love for the next four years. One of the most popular public figures in the country, he will stand for mayor supported only by the Citizens for the European Movement of Bulgaria (GERB in Bulgarian). GERB, led by Tsvetan Tsvetanov and founded by Borissov last December, will face the competition of all the other parties represented in Parliament.
Before becoming mayor in 2005, Borissov spent four years as Interior Ministry chief secretary, where he earned the rank of general. Often referred to as General Borissov in Bulgarian-language media, Borissov will now face another general.
BSP
On August 31, the senior partner in the ruling coalition the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) nominated its own candidate for Sofia mayor: 65-year-old Brigadir (Brigo) Asparouhov.
Asparouhovs nomination came as the result of democratic elections inside the socialist party. He won by two votes against the candidacy of the younger Georgi Kadiev, who, until most recently, was deputy finance minister.
Asparouhovs appearance on the political stage from behind the curtains gave reason for the media to call the battle for Sofia the battle of the generals.
Asparouhov is a notorious figure in Bulgarian politics. For 11 years he worked for the former communist Secret Security police in the countrys intelligence. In 1991, the third year of Bulgarias democracy, Asparouhov was appointed head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and was ranked as a general. In 1997, he was dismissed from the post by then-president Petar Stoyanov. After his dismissal, several cases were started against him for malfeasance in office, or more precisely, for destroying documents containing information about undercover agents of the former State Security.
Nothing was proven.
As a figure directly connected to the former communist regime, Asparouhov has been sidelined by his party in the past 10 years. This was why his nomination a surprising move by the BSP. Traditionally, political scientists have considered Sofia to be a stronghold of right-wing supporters and, given Asparouhovs communist background, the only reasonable explanation that came from the BSP was that the talks that Asparouhov has to worry about his past within the State Security are rubbish, as Prime Minister and BSP leader Sergei Stanishev put it on September 2 at a party gathering.
The other explanation that came from the BSP was that as a general, Asparouhov was the only one who could face off against Borissov.
UDF + DSB
These elections in Sofia will be remembered as the first in 10 years in which two right-wing parties have managed to agree on a candidate, who, at least on paper, fits the profile of the young and prosperous candidate, someone not affected by a political past.
The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) agreed on Martin Zaimov (45), former deputy governor of BNB and currently employed by Societe Generale Expressbank. Born in Switzerland to a Bulgarian mother and an English father, Zaimov combines both the West and the East in the political context of the Cold War era. As an individual, Zaimov is probably one of the best candidates the right-wing could have picked. Young, and successful as a financial expert, Zaimov fits the image of a right-wing politician.
But because, however, Zaimov could have one downside. His grandfather is the famous general Vladimir Zaimov, a war hero. General Zaimov was shot by authorities in 1942, after being found guilty of spying for the Soviet Union. This is why the future communist regime regarded Vladimir Zaimov as one of Bulgarias greatest communist heroes. This fact might prevent the hard-core right-wing supporters from embracing his grandson.
Although Martin Zaimov never saw his grandfather, a sign that the parties behind him have seriously looked at the issue were the words of UDFs leader on September 4.
On private Nova Televisia, Plamen Yuroukov said that he had had intense discussion with prominent historians, who told him that Vladimir Zaimov had never been a spy for the Soviets and the fact that his monument was still kept in the KGB building in Moscow was pure communist propaganda.
Titi
The most colourful candidate and the big surprise of these elections is the candidacy of the Democratic Partys Konstantin Papazov (40), known as Titi Papazov. The surprise was not Papazovs nomination itself, but his ambition to promote himself as the person who will unite the right-wing parties.
But with Zaimovs nomination, UDF and DSB sent a clear signal that he was never regarded as a joint right-wing candidate.
Back-up singers
For now, the list of candidates for mayor of Sofia seems complete, with the exception of the other three parties represented in Parliament: the National Movement for Stability and Progress, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and the ultra-nationalist party Ataka. MRF traditionally avoids presenting its own candidate for Sofia and variance this time is unlikely. As for the other two parties, this could be one of their last chances to prove as important political players.
Outside Sofia
It seems that the theme of people being, in one way or another, part of the former communist regime will be the main subject in the elections all around Bulgaria. The most recent case is the situation in Plovdiv, the countrys second-largest city, considered a right-wing stronghold.
Slavcho Atanasov was presented as the joint right-wing candidate by both GERB and DSB. On September 5, however, DSB withdrew its support after Atanasov himself said that he was proud of his past as a political officer within the communist army. Immediately after his utterance, DSB distanced itself from Atanasov, while GERB maintained its support.
In Varna, the right-wing candidate is Dimo Gyaourov (44), a former head of the NIS and also a general. Unlike Asparouhov, Gyaourov is considered a true right-wing mind since he served under DSBs current leader Ivan Kostovs government (1997-2001). Gyaourov will confront the seaside citys current mayor Kiril Yordanov, who is reaching for a third consecutive term, supported by the BSP.
It is the same situation in the other Black Sea city of Bourgas. Current mayor Yoan Kostadinov, like Yordanov, is standing as an independent but supported by the BSP. Both are expected to have an easy win.
By September 4, the local elections central committee had registered a total of 58 political parties and initiative committees. The deadline for registration is September 12. The deadline for registration of candidates for mayors and municipal councillors is September 27.
