European left needs a 'more powerful' message 

Speaking in English, Pirinski, who also served as Bulgaria's foreign minister and was a leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party throughout his country's transition, said that despite his many contacts with the European left, he has only once been able to discuss the challenge of the European elections with them. 

"We didn't find the solution to the problem, but we recognised that the left needs to come out with credible and very clear commitments that speak to the citizens from the point of view of his worries at the moment," said Pirinski. 

The chairman of the Bulgarian parliament said the European left had a problem, as it is often "too expansive in words, but not sufficiently powerful in the message [it] translates". 

Pirinski said that as the Bulgarians are "generally a Euro-optimistic society", this year's elections are "special" for his country, as voters understand that the European Parliament will be acquiring new powers and a new role. He added that for Bulgaria, which has been a EU member for two-and-a-half years, issues such as EU farm or regional policies have already become major political subjects. 

Asked whether the European left should come up with a candidate to replace José Manuel Barroso as Commission president, Pirinski answered: "For that, you have to ask my friends from the left in the European Parliament." 

In fact, the EU left is not united over the issue of who the next Commission chief should be, with the Socialist prime ministers of Portugal and Spain officially backing EPP-endorsed candidate Barroso. 

Pirinski recalledthat the Bulgarian parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty in March 2008. As an advocate and promoter of inter-parliamentary cooperation, however, he declined to comment as to whether increased contacts between national parliaments would have created a better climate in the Czech Senate, where the Lisbon Treaty lies stalled at present (EurActiv 25/03/09). 

The Bulgarian parliament chair stressed his country's historic ties with the Belgian parliament, and hinted that Bulgaria was now playing a similar role with respect to Western Balkan countries, which were now adapting legislation recently introduced in his country. 

To read the full text of the interview, please click here.