SOFIA Bulgaria's former ruling Communists vowed during a weekend congress to build strong united opposition in the Balkan state and reelected moderate Georgi Parvanov as their leader to do the job. The Congress of the Socialist Party (BSP), known as the Communist Party until 1990, opened on May Day with a protest by thousands of supporters against the high cost of reforms pursued by the ruling centre-right Union of Democratic Forces (udf).

Ironically, it was British Prime Minister Tony Blair who was the most quoted person at the congress with many delegates recalling what he had told his Labour Party members several years ago: We either reform, or die. A congress resolution said it realized a crucial need to form a new left force in Bulgaria which should not be based on an ideological or political platform of a separate party but on the world's modern leftist movement.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party should put an end to its isolationism, Parvanov told the congress. It cannot afford to continue to be `a lone long-distance runner' in Bulgaria's politics. Under a right government a united action by leftist forces is inevitable. The BSP is still reeling from a crushing electoral defeat last year when Bulgarians, angry over galloping inflation and economic chaos, toppled them after a month-long mass street protest led by the UDF. (Reuter)