Influencial MEP splits Bulgarian Socialist Party before EU election

Ivailo Kalfin, considered to be the highest profile Bulgarian member of the European Parliament according to EurActiv, announced on 13 January 2014 that he was leaving the group of MEPs from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) over which he presided. Kalfin was expected to run for the EU elections on a separate ticket, a move which could split Bulgarian centre-left voters.