A poll among the members of Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) reveals that 52% of them are keen on a joint presidential candidacy with ABV, a splinter-off party of Georgi Parvanov who is a former BSP leader and served as Bulgaria's President in 2002-2012.
Korneliya Ninova, the recently elected BSP leader, said the referendum did not include questions on names and profiles of possible presidential candidates.
She ruled out, however, that the electorate could endorse Georgi Parvanov or his deputy Ivaylo Kalfin, who until recently was the Labour Minister.
Candidates for the presidential vote have to be announced by August 31 at the latest, Ninova announced, well ahead of the elections expected to be held at the end of October.
Political analysis by Planmen Asenov.