Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed Kornelya Ninova's striking off as Bulgarian Socialist Party leader

The Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) on September 9 confirmed a Sofia City Court ruling of July 10 that strikes off Korneliya Ninova as Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader.

Atanas Zafirov was registered as its representative and acting leader.

The ruling is final and is not subject to appeal.

Court strikes off Kornelia Ninova as leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party

While the court sitting was underway, those close to Kornelia Ninova registered the BSP with the Central Election Commission (CEC) for the elections - two days before the deadline. The interim leadership of the BSP described the submission of the documents to the CEC for the elections by those close to Kornelya Ninova as another provocation.

The sitting of the Supreme Court of Cassation on the striking off of Kornelia Ninova as chairman of the BSP and the submission of the party's documents for participation in the elections by Georgi Svilensky and Ivan Chenchev began at the same time. The two went with a power of attorney signed by Ninova. And they, like her, were expelled from the BSP by a decision of the National Council. They left a loophole for themselves- regardless of the court's decision, at least to have documents submitted.

They indicated that they were still members of the party. And they reiterated that the Congress has the final say on Ninova's resignation, which she otherwise submitted after the June vote. At today's hearing, which is on the appeal of Krum Donchev, who is close to Ninova and like her expelled from the BSP, the Prosecutor’s office also made this argument and referred to the statute they cited. Donchev appealed against the decision of the Sofia City Court in July, by which Ninova was struck off as chairperson. The interim leadership described today's registration as another provocation.

Borislav Gutsanov, chairman of the BSP's Parliamentary Group "Led by former party chair Ms Kornelya Ninova to thwart the attempt of a broad left unification and the creation of a strong left. They violate absolutely everything, like the norms and rules in the BSP and the judicial system in Bulgaria."

Ivan Chenchev, expelled from the BSP: "Since there is no congress convened to state the resignation, any other registration can be challenged by third parties."

Gutsanov also announced that the new leftist alliance, “BSP - United Lef”t, would also submit documents for registration:

"An attempt to steal the brand from the BSP by three people who have long had nothing to do with the BSP."

Bulgarian Socialist Party leader resigns

Earlier in the studio of "The Day Begins", Maya Manolova of the new big left alliance, pointed out that for the first time a former leader is challenging her own resignation:

"Quite an unpleasant situation, it appears that the inner circle around Kornelya Ninova is working against its own party. It's time to swallow the ego, to compromise, to step aside and back."

Another decision is to be appealed - that of the Administrative Court - Sofia-city, that Atanas Zafirov is the BSP representative before the CEC.