LEAD: Plevenliev takes oath as Bulgaria's new president

Jan 19, 2012, 15:30 GMT

Sofia - Bulgaria's new president, Rosen Plevenliev, took his oath of office Thursday, preparing the way for him to formally take over from Socialist Georgi Parvanov on Sunday.

In an address to parliament, he promised to work to accelerate Bulgaria's development. The Balkan country joined the European Union in 2007, but remains by far it poorest member state.

Plevenliev, 47, said he wanted 'more Europe' in Bulgaria. 'More Europe means a stronger and richer Bulgaria,' he said.

By highlighting the need to 'reform (Bulgaria's) diplomatic corps,' he also signalled that he intends to keep his pledge and carry out a purge of Communist-era spies in Bulgaria's diplomatic service.

His predecessor Parvanov had refused calls by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to recall the ambassadors and other diplomats whom a parliamentary committee in charge of secret Communist-era files exposed as state security collaborators.

With Plevenliev's ascent to the presidential office, Borisov's conservative GERB party will round out its grip on power. GERB won parliamentary elections in 2009, soundly beating the then ruling coalition led by the Socialist Party.

Parvanov had served the maximum two 5-year terms in office and was not eligible to run again.