Six days after President Georgi Purvanov publicly criticised the Government led by Sergei Stanishev in a newspaper interview with Bulgarian-language Trud daily, Purvanov made a second media appearance, this time on private broadcaster bTV.

On June 17 2008 Purvanov told bTV that he was not at war with the Government or Prime Minister Stanishev, currently on a state visit to the US.

In his Trud interview Purvanov had criticised the appointment of members of Stanishev's team to the management of state-owned companies. The President had said that Stanishev had made a serious political miscalculation, “especially when they (the appointees) have no link to the business of the respective companies”.

Purvanov also referred to the appointment of Stanishev's media adviser Ivaylo Danailov as head of the board of Mini Maritsa-Iztok mining complex, calling it “inexplicable and short-sighted” because it followed revelations that state officials had failed to declare income from state-owned companies.

On June 17, however, he stated his firm support for the Government. “Not only should the current Government stay in power, but it has the potential to do so. At this stage I see no other alternative or need for a change in the executive. I personally think that the Government should finish its mandate,” Purvanov said.

He said he disagreed with adviser Ventislav Dimitrov that Stanishev should resign if, as expected, the European Commission delivers a damning report on July 23 regarding Bulgaria’s perceived failure to launch judicial reform and combat organised crime and corruption.

“He (Dimitrov) made a mistake with his statement. We had a tough conversation and we agreed that he would cease all media appearances and concentrate on economic issues instead,” Purvanov said.

The June 12 interview with Trud was interpreted by some political scientists as Purvanov's readiness to take a more active role in Bulgaria's politics once his second term in office ends in 2011.

He became President in 2001 as leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, currently led by Stanishev. “As a historian I have made my conclusions based on the experience of some of my colleagues such as former president Petar Stoyanov (after losing the 2001 elections to Purvanov, he headed the right-wing Union of Democratic Forces) and former prime minister Ivan Kostov (current leader of the right-wing Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria). I cannot imagine forming a party only to send a couple of MPs to Parliament. It would be beneath a president to do that,” he said. What he had in mind was something similar to what former Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski did - “An academy for young politicians”. 

Purvanov also repeated his idea for serious reforms to Bulgaria's electoral system. He talked about introducing a mixed electoral system that would affirm the principles of majority elections.

Purvanov also broached the subject of financing of political parties, indicating his support for a public register of party sponsors that would only comprise individuals, not companies. “I did it in 2006 when I published all the sponsors of my election campaign on the internet,” he said.

Purvanov also referred to PR companies, noting that “a lot of money laundering happens through PR companies close to political parties”.