“Our party lost 700 000 of its supporters, almost two thirds of our electorate since the previous elections,” Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) supreme council representative Yanaki Stoilov said.

Stoilov presented BSP’s official position on the results of the members of European Parliament (MEP) elections held in Bulgaria for the first time on May 20.

“Election results show that the trust in the political system decreased and the proof is the low electoral activity,” Stoilov said.

Movement for Rights and Freedom (MRF) and ultra-nationalist movement Ataka kept their electorate while right-wing parties were defeated. Newly formed centrist Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (CEDB) collected the votes of other right-wing parties, Stoilov said.

The main reasons for BSP's failure are its inability to fulfill its pre-election promises, the corruption scandal involving Economy and Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov and inadequate campaigning, Stoilov said.

BSP's management will research thoroughly and take the needed measures for changes in the party's policy. BSP has to take responsibility for the lost trust, Stoilov said.

“Ovcharov has tabled his resignation in beginning of May and we ask the Prime Minister to accept it,” Stoilov said.

“We appeal for changes in government. We do not talk about changes in power but changes in priorities,” Stoilov said. BSP's aims for decreasing poverty and corruption in the country should become the main aims of Bulgarian policy.

BSP representative Emil Kostadinov told conference participants that most people were concerned about the huge influence of MRF.

The party has strong leader and its management knows well its supporters and what they expected, Kostadinov said.