The choice of "Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria" (DSB) as the name of the new party being formed around former prime minister Ivan Kostov has led to suspicions that the party will be of a nationalistic character.
The party is to be established officially on May 30 by Kostov and his supporters.
Along with 29 other MPs, he quit the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) earlier this year because of disagreements with UDF party leader Nadezhda Mihailova.
The name of Kostov's party was announced during a special mass in the Rila Monastery attended by members of the establishing forum, supporters and members of the Dialogue civic club.
The mass, held to pray for health and success of the party and its founders, was celebrated by the abbot of the monastery, Bishop Yoan, who afterwards said that this was the first occasion of a party seeking a divine blessing.
Bishop Yoan wished that the founders and supporters be protected and guided by St Ivan Rilski, and that he give them wisdom and strength to work for the benefit of the Bulgarian people.
Kostov said that the spirit of Bulgarians had to be lifted, because young people go where spirits are high, where they feel secure and have opportunities to live well and raise children in an environment of virtue and values.
The symbol of the party is to be a flaming torch held aloft by a hand on a dark blue background.
A day after the DSB name was announced, the party of the ethnic Turks in Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and the major right-wing opposition, UDF, said they found nationalist elements in it.
After the regular meeting of the UDF National Executive Council, one of the members of the council, Mladen Vlashki, said that it was apparent that Kostov was putting emphasis on what voters like best - a strong hand.
Vlashki said that the name hinted at nationalism and far right sentiments.
"You know how such parties are looked upon in the civilised world," he said.
A DSB founder, Vesselin Metodiev, said that the party name was a sign of its intention to work for the cause of a strong Bulgaria within a united Europe and to see nationalism in it was mere speculation.
After the UDF meeting, it also emerged that it would not hold talks with the DSB on a future unified government programme.
Sociologist Svetoslav Malinov said that for the DSB, the term "strong Bulgaria" symbolises an economically strong country with its people "getting richer and more confident". He said that the party would work for returning power to the people.
- Staff Reporter
The party is to be established officially on May 30 by Kostov and his supporters.
Along with 29 other MPs, he quit the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) earlier this year because of disagreements with UDF party leader Nadezhda Mihailova.
The name of Kostov's party was announced during a special mass in the Rila Monastery attended by members of the establishing forum, supporters and members of the Dialogue civic club.
The mass, held to pray for health and success of the party and its founders, was celebrated by the abbot of the monastery, Bishop Yoan, who afterwards said that this was the first occasion of a party seeking a divine blessing.
Bishop Yoan wished that the founders and supporters be protected and guided by St Ivan Rilski, and that he give them wisdom and strength to work for the benefit of the Bulgarian people.
Kostov said that the spirit of Bulgarians had to be lifted, because young people go where spirits are high, where they feel secure and have opportunities to live well and raise children in an environment of virtue and values.
The symbol of the party is to be a flaming torch held aloft by a hand on a dark blue background.
A day after the DSB name was announced, the party of the ethnic Turks in Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and the major right-wing opposition, UDF, said they found nationalist elements in it.
After the regular meeting of the UDF National Executive Council, one of the members of the council, Mladen Vlashki, said that it was apparent that Kostov was putting emphasis on what voters like best - a strong hand.
Vlashki said that the name hinted at nationalism and far right sentiments.
"You know how such parties are looked upon in the civilised world," he said.
A DSB founder, Vesselin Metodiev, said that the party name was a sign of its intention to work for the cause of a strong Bulgaria within a united Europe and to see nationalism in it was mere speculation.
After the UDF meeting, it also emerged that it would not hold talks with the DSB on a future unified government programme.
Sociologist Svetoslav Malinov said that for the DSB, the term "strong Bulgaria" symbolises an economically strong country with its people "getting richer and more confident". He said that the party would work for returning power to the people.
- Staff Reporter
