Leadership elections within the Bulgarian Socialist Party were held on 27 July 2014 as part of the party's 48th congress, following the resignation of Sergey Stanishev earlier that month. While he made no formal endorsement, he hinted at supporting economy minister Dragomir Stoynev, who had been recently elected as party co-chairman.[1]
Following the 2013 election the BSP formed a coalition government with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, which required support from the ultra-nationalist party Ataka. The government was seen as corrupt[4][5] and figures from it were considered inappropriate.[6] This led to protests, culminating in the resignations of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski and Stanishev.
Candidates
Initially party co-chairman Yanaki Stoilov was considered a frontrunner, alongside minister Dragomir Stoynev, however, following accusations directed at Stoynev, the party establishment appeared to coalesce around Mihail Mikov. Thus, both major candidates were seen as ideological successors to Stanishev.[7] Candidates Maya Manolova, Georgi Kadiev and Korneliya Ninova advocated for change within the party.[8]
