Bulgaria’s DSB party elects new leader
Right-wing party the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria elected lawyer Radan Kanev its new leader on June 23 2013 after the resignation of Ivan Kostov from the leadership because of the DSB’s failure to win any seats in Parliament in the May elections.
Kanev was one of two deputy leaders of the party. He is a partner in a law firm and an attorney who graduated from Sofia University in 1999.
Kostov, prime minister from 1997 to 2001, was leader of the DSB from its founding in May 2004, when the former Union of Democratic Forces leader and former prime minister led a walkout from the UDF.
Among right-wing political circles, the party is on the list of those seeking the long-elusive right-wing unity that would see a united force return to a future parliament.
In other political news involving minority parties at the weekend, the entire leadership of the National Movement for Stability and Progress – which was the ruling party from 2001 to 2005 and a member of the tripartite governing coalition from 2005 to 2009, resigned after the second successive time that the party won no seats in Parliament.
On June 22, Iliyana Raeva, a former rhythmic gymnastics champion, set up her own centre-right party, United Bulgaria.
