Plovdiv

Plovdiv publisher Manol Peykov released a long post in which he explained his political ambitions. The former deputy made it clear that he is more visible in the local government, that is why he himself wanted a back seat in the MP lists of the PP-DB coalition now. Here is the unedited post:

“Dear friends –
You know how it is in life: sometimes there is a disconnect between what a person wants and what they know they should do.
Yes, you guessed it right – I am talking about the upcoming elections.
I have always been socially engaged and it would be more than strange right now – after so many interviews in which I share my optimism for the future of Bulgaria given the civil society that is being born and matured before my eyes – to backtrack.
To this, however, I should immediately add that I have always seen myself much more as a public figure than as a politician. And on top of that, I’m at that golden age where I already know what I want and still have the strength to fight for it.
Therefore, my personal feeling is that I would be most useful where I would have a real field of action – and a real chance to see (at least some of) the results of my labor and efforts within a management cycle.
In other words, I believe that if my place is in politics at all, it is in city politics, not in national politics.
At the same time, however, I am acutely aware of the importance of the watershed on which Bulgaria is located – a watershed between autocracy and the rule of law, between Europe and Eurasia, between apparent and true democracy, between future and past. And that this large-scale, civilizational battle is fought precisely in the parliament.
I’m also aware of what a huge asset the trust—your trust—that I’ve gained over the past year is. I feel a serious responsibility towards this asset – and that is precisely why I think it should be an investor in this battle.
That is why you will see my name under number 7 in the PP-DB ballot for the parliamentary elections in the 16th multi-mandate constituency – Plovdiv city.
* * *
I chose the seventh place on my list myself.
I firmly refused to enter into a negotiation mode with our coalition partners to take the leadership in Plovdiv (even though it was offered to me).
First, because my participation in the bulletin is supportive, not leading. And I expect my real battle to be in the local elections in the fall.
Second – because I respect and value Nikola Minchev as a person and a politician; I believe in his integrity and his political future, and I join the ballot he leads with joy and without a shadow of any internal conflict.
Thirdly – because (as a member of the National Council of “Yes, Bulgaria”, a participant in a series of elections and a former MP) it is very clear to me how delicate a job is the functioning of a coalition (let alone a coalition consisting of coalitions!). Pushing long-thought-out and negotiated (on a principled, strategic basis) sheets is like the butterfly effect – seemingly a small job, but with the potential to cause major upheaval. Neither I nor our young coalition need that.
And fourth – because my appearance in seventh place in no way makes me an outsider.
If you firmly believe that I deserve to be ahead – there is a way to rearrange the leaves. It’s called “preference”.
The only “protected” seat (one that cannot be moved by preference) is the first. In the city of Plovdiv, we will certainly win more than one place. (I hope and trust that more than one will be enough.)
I look forward to your support.
I hope to get it.
And I promise if I get it, I’ll use it in the most honorable and meaningful way I’m capable of.”