Plovdiv could become the scene of an interesting "volleyball duel," but this time off the court. According to information from "Maritsa" newspaper, Bulgarian volleyball legend Vladimir Nikolov will lead the list of "Progressive Bulgaria" in the 16th Electoral District – Plovdiv city.

The news is also of interest to the volleyball community, as only a while ago toVolleyWeek.bgNikolov stated that no discussions had been held with him about participating in politics. Apparently, however, the situation has developed in recent weeks.

What "Maritsa" reports

According to the Plovdiv publication, on Monday at exactly 4:00 PM, representatives of "Progressive Bulgaria" will submit the list of candidate MPs to the 16th Regional Electoral Commission. This will happen in the building of the Municipal Council in Plovdiv.

The list leader Vladimir Nikolov is expected to attend in person, accompanied by the local coordinator of Rumen Radev's coalition – former regional governor Angel Stoev, as well as by some of the candidates on the list.

Preliminary information indicates that among the names there will be popular Plovdiv residents from various spheres of public life, with an emphasis also placed on strong female representation.

A volleyball duel … but on the political stage

The interesting thing is that a kind of volleyball clash between two generations could take shape in Plovdiv.

The leader of the "Siyanie" (Shine/Radiance) formation's list is the libero of Lokomotiv Avia (Plovdiv) – Martin Atanasov.

Thus, two representatives of volleyball – one a legend of the national team and long-time captain of Bulgaria, and the other an active player in the domestic elite – could turn out to be political opponents in the same electoral race.

From the court to the public stage

Vladimir Nikolov is one of the most recognizable names in Bulgarian volleyball – a former captain of the national team, who played in elite championships such as Italy and France, and a long-time leader of Levski.

For his part, Martin Atanasov is among the experienced liberos in the Bulgarian championship and a key figure in Lokomotiv Avia's defense.

Whether this unusual "volleyball duel" will translate into real political competition in Plovdiv remains to be seen after the official registration of the lists and the start of the election campaign.
We remind you that this is not a precedent – for a volleyball player to try their hand at politics. In 2012, Plamen Konstantinov tried his hand in Miglena Kuneva's project.

photos: bulphoto and Nikolay Varadinov