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We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria

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We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Продължаваме промяната – Демократична България, romanized: Prodŭlzhavame promyanata – Demokratichna Bŭlgariya), also known simply as PP–DB, is a Bulgarian electoral coalition between We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria (DaB and DSB).[7] The alliance was formed prior to the 2023 election.[8]

We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria
Продължаваме промяната – Демократична България
AbbreviationPP–DB
LeaderKiril Petkov
Parliamentary leaderNikolai Denkov
Nadezhda Yordanova[1]
FoundersKiril Petkov
Asen Vasilev
Hristo Ivanov
Atanas Atanasov
Founded13 February 2023
Ideology
Political positionCentre[5] to centre-right[6]
European affiliationEuropean People's Party (DSB)
European Parliament groupRenew Europe (PP)
European People's Party Group (DSB)
Coalition membersWe Continue the Change
Democratic Bulgaria
Colours  Indigo
Slogan"Има Как"
("There is a Way")
National Assembly
37 / 240
European Parliament
3 / 17
Sofia City Council
14 / 61
Website
ppdb.bg

Background

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Bulgarian political crisis

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Main article: 2021–2023 Bulgarian political crisis

Following numerous corruption scandals linked to the governing GERB party,[9] several anti-corruption parties made breakthroughs in the April 2021 election. One of such parties was the liberal-conservative group, Democratic Bulgaria (DB).[10][11] Due to the resulting political deadlock, no government could be formed and the country would go onto face two further elections in 2021, one in July and one in November.[12] Before the November election, two popular ministers from Stefan Yanev's first interim government, Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev formed a new centrist political force, the We Continue the Change (PP).[12] PP would go on to win the November election, and negotiated a government with DB, alongside the Socialist Party (BSP) and another anti-corruption party There Is Such a People (ITN).[13]

The government fell after less than seven months in power, after ITN pulled out due to disagreements over the Budget and Macedonian accession to the European Union.[14] The government was voted out in a Vote of No Confidence.[15] President Rumen Radev called an election in October 2022, in which PP fell back to second behind GERB.[16] No government could be formed as a result of the election, and so a further election was set to be held in April 2023.[17]

Formation

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The alliance was announced on 10 February 2023. The alliance's stated aim was to get the most votes in the April 2023 election, giving them the first chance of forming a government.[8] A joint declaration titled "We Continue Together" was signed on 13 February 2023 by representatives of PP, Yes, Bulgaria!, Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, and the Green Movement (ZD), formally announcing the formation of the alliance.[18]

Election campaign

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2023 election

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Issues with regional lists

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There were disagreements between members of the alliance over the orders and members of regional lists.[19][20][21][22]

Prior to the final announcement and submission of the regional lists, some figures in PP either left the party or threatened to leave it. Notably, a prominent[23] PP Member of Parliament (MP) from Pleven, Ivan Hristanov, declared that he would be leaving PP,[24] and would not participate in the upcoming elections.[25][26] There was speculation that he left due to conflicts with the leader of the list in the Pleven Electoral District.[27][20] Petkov denied that this was the case.[25]

PP MP from Sofia Oblast, Alexander Dunchev, announced he would not be contesting the election and would leave PP, due to a DB member being placed as the leader of the list, calling the decision a "betrayal".[28][29][30]

Chairman of the PP Parliamentary Group, Andrey Gyurev, denied that any "under the table" negotiations about list leaders were on-going and that all list leaders would be chosen based on merit. Gyurev confirmed that the PP Executive Council would meet on 22 February to finalise the list with DB.[31]

On 27 February, a day before lists were to be announced, disagreements broke out in Blagoevgrad Province. This led to DB MP and lawyer, Ivan Dimitrov, who had been selected to be third on the local list, to announce that he would be withdrawing from politics, citing problems with the joint list as one of his reasons.[32]

Campaign

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The PP–DB coalition began its campaign on 19 February at an open air event in front of the National Theater in Sofia. The event was attended by PP co-leaders, Petkov and Vasilev, Panev, the leader of ZD, DSB leader Atanas Atanasov, independent former BSP MP Yavor Bozhankov, as well as leaders of public organisations which had decided to endorse the list.[33] At this meeting, it was confirmed that Yavor Bozhankov will lead the list in Gabrovo, additionally that PP–DB stated that they represent the "good forces" in Bulgarian politics, as opposed to GERB, which represented a return to the past.[34]

On 3 March, Bulgarian Liberation Day, PP–DB unveiled their slogan "There is a Way" (Bulgarian: Има Как) at an event. The alliance called for Bulgarians to come together to fight for change, proposing five steps that would ensure a "good European life for all Bulgarians". The five steps are as follows:[35]

  • Joining the Eurozone in 2023
  • Joining the Schengen area in 2023
  • Investing millions into regional development, including especially strengthening farms
  • Diversifying Bulgaria's energy supply
  • Guaranteeing quality healthcare and education for all Bulgarians

Regional list leaders

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The following table displays all the candidates who are placed first in the regional list for PP–DB for the April 2023 elections.[36][37]

Regional list leaders
List No. Location Party Candidate
1 Blagoevgrad PP Andrey Gyurov
2 Burgas SEC Konstantin Bachiyski
3 Varna PP Daniel Lorer
4 Veliko Tarnovo DSB Lyudmila Ilieva
5 Vidin DSB Lyuben Ivanov
6 Vratsa PP Denitsa Simeonova
7 Gabrovo Ex-BSP (PP) Yavor Bozhankov
8 Dobrich DaB! Ivaylo Mirchev
9 Kardzhali DSB Atanas Atanasov
10 Kyustendil PP Georgi Stamov
11 Lovech PP Iskren Arabadzhiev
12 Montana PP Vanina Vecina
13 Pazardjik PP Ivaylo Shotev
14 Pernik PP Boyko Rashkov
15 Pleven Ex-ITN (PP) Radostin Vasilev
16 Plovdiv PP Nikola Minchev
17 Plovdiv region PP Rosen Kosturkov
18 Razgrad DaB! Antioneta Tsoneva
19 Ruse DB Martin Dimitrov
20 Silistra PP Stoyan Georgiev
21 Sliven PP Tatyana Sultanova-Siveva
22 Smolyan PP Michal Kambarev
23 Sofia PP Kiril Petkov
24 Sofia DaB! Hristo Ivanov
25 Sofia PP Hristo Petrov
26 Sofia region DaB! Alexander Simidchiev
27 Stara Zagora PP Radoslav Rybarski
28 Targovishte ZD Ilina Mutafchieva
29 Haskovo PP Asen Vasilev
30 Shumen PP Nikolay Denkov
31 Yambol PP Miroslav Ivanov

Ideology and platform

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Tagesschau described the PP–DB coalition as liberal-conservative, anti-corruption, and Atlanticist.[38]

In their joint declaration the coalition laid out their main policy proposals in 13 points, including:[18]

Composition

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Members and Structure

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The coalition was registered ahead of the 2023 election and originally included six parties (PP, DSB, DaB!, Volt, SEK and ZD)[39] In addition, former BSP MP Yavor Bozhankov led the list in Gabrovo.[40]

On the 26th of May, Radostin Vasiliev, leader of Strong Bulgaria and nominally a PP MP, announced that he would be leaving the PP–DB group in order to become an independent, due to his frustration with internal corruption and the recent government deal with GERB-SDS.[41]

On 15 April 2024 the Green Movement left PP–DB.[42] On the 24th of April 2024, SEK also left PP–DB.[43]

Prior to the October 2024 election, Volt left the coalition following reports that DB pushed for them to be excluded.[44][45]

Party Leader Ideology Position 2023 MPs J 2024 MPs O 2024 MPs 2024 MEPs
We Continue the Change (PP) Kiril Petkov
Asen Vasilev 		Liberalism
Progressivism
Anti-corruption
Pro-Europeanism 		Centre
35 / 240
[a]
22 / 240
21 / 240
2 / 17
Yes, Bulgaria! (DaB!) Hristo Ivanov Liberalism
Anti-corruption
Pro-Europeanism 		Centre to
centre-right
13 / 240
9 / 240
10 / 240
0 / 17
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) Atanas Atanasov Liberal conservatism
Economic liberalism
Pro-Europeanism 		Centre-right
10 / 240
8 / 240
6 / 240
1 / 17
  1. ^ In 2023 36 MPs were elected from PP's lists. During the term of the 49th National Assembly Radostin Vasilev left the PP–DB parliamentary group to sit as an independent and later founded "Morale, unity, honour"

Affiliated groups

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Group Affiliation to PP–DB Leader Ideology Position Notes
Former BSP faction[46][47] Participating in PP–DB regional lists as individual members Yavor Bozhankov Pro-Europeanism
Social democracy 		Centre-left Bozhankov was an MP at the time of defection
Dissident Green Movement politicians[48] Participating in PP–DB regional lists as individual members Vladislav Panev Green liberalism
Green politics 		Centre Two MPs defected rather than split off, as the rest of the party did
Republicans for Bulgaria (RzB)[49] Endorsed PP–DB for the 2023 elections Tsvetan Tsvetanov Conservatism
Conservative liberalism 		Centre-right
0 / 240
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union (BZNS)[50] Political party that officially endorsed the PP–DB list Ilya Zyumbilev Agrarianism Centre
0 / 240
Dignity of United People (DEN)[51] Political party that officially endorsed the PP–DB list Naiden Zelenogorski Liberal conservatism
Liberalism 		Centre-right
0 / 240
Spasi Sofia[52] A political group based in Sofia which endorsed the coalition. Individual members may be part of the regional lists Borislav Bonev Sofia regionalism
Anti-corruption 		Centre —
Justice For All[53] A non-governmental organisation which endorsed the coalition Bilyana Gyaruva-Vegertseder Judicial reform
Anti-corruption 		Single-issue —
For Good[53] A charity organisation which endorsed the coalition Collective leadership Children's rights None —
Listen to Yourself[53] A public organisation for deaf and blind people that endorsed the coalition Collective leadership Sign language promotion

Deaf and blind interests

None —
Center for Creative Justice Razgrad[53] A support group against domestic violence and for legal support based in Razgrad which endorsed the alliance Dimo Borisov Anti-domestic violence
Judicial reform 		None —
Three Women Foundation[53] A charity organisation which endorsed the alliance Collective Leadership None None —
Team for Sofia[52] A public organisation based in Sofia which endorsed the list Collective leadership Sofia regionalism
Technocracy 		Big tent —

Former members

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The following parties and civic organizations officially disassociated from the PP–DB coalition.

Party Leader Ideology Position 2023 MPs
Green Movement (ZD) Toma Belev Green politics
Environmentalism
Liberalism 		Centre to centre-left
0 / 240
Volt Bulgaria (Volt) Nastimir Ananiev European federalism
Social liberalism 		Centre to
centre-left
0 / 240
Middle European Class (SEK) Konstantin Bachiyski Economic liberalism
Burgas regionalism 		Centre-right
0 / 240
Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) Radostin Vasilev Anti-corruption
Social conservatism 		Centre
0 / 240
United Agrarians (OZ) Petya Straleva Agrarianism Centre-right
0 / 240

Election results

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National Assembly

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National Assembly
Election Votes % Seats +/− Government
2023 621,069 23.54 (#2)
64 / 240
 New Coalition
Jun 2024 307,849 14.33 (#3)
39 / 240
   25 Snap election
Oct 2024 346,063 14.20 (#2)
37 / 240
   2 TBA

European Parliament

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Election List leader Votes % Seats +/– EP Group
2024 Nikola Minchev 290,865 14.45 (#3)
3 / 17
 New RE / EPP

References

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  1. ^ https://parliament.bg/bg/parliamentarygroups/3571
  2. ^ Krassen Nikolov (7 June 2023). "Bulgarian parliament elects pro-EU government that can help Ukraine". euroactive.com.
  3. ^ Nicolas Camut (22 May 2023). "Bulgaria agrees government with rotating PMs to tackle corruption". politico.eu.
  4. ^ Krassen Nikolov (7 June 2023). "Bulgarian parliament elects pro-EU government that can help Ukraine". euroactive.com.
  5. ^ "Bulgaria's centrist PP party seals deal for coalition government". reuters.com. 10 December 2021.
  6. ^ Adriyan Georgiev (2 December 2023). "Yes, Bulgaria! will start shifting towards the right and it wants for Democratic Bulgaria to be a dominant force in that point of the spectrum". dnevnik.bg.
  7. ^ "Central Electoral Commission, decision №3161".
  8. ^ a b Зехирова, Златина (10 February 2023). ""Продължаваме промяната - Демократична България" e коалицията, която ще участва на изборите". Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Bulgaria's president calls nation's 5th election in 2 years". ABC News. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Parties and Elections in Europe". www.parties-and-elections.eu. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Резултати :: Парламентарни избори 4 април 2021". results.cik.bg. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  12. ^ a b "New centrist faction to run in Bulgaria's third election this year". Reuters. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Bulgarian parliament backs Kiril Petkov as PM". POLITICO. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Bulgaria's ITN party exits coalition government". Reuters. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Bulgaria government collapses after no-confidence vote – DW – 06/22/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Резултати :: Избори за народни представители 02 октомври 2022". results.cik.bg. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Bulgaria to hold 5th election in 2 years after talks fail". AP NEWS. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  18. ^ a b "ПП и ДБ официално подписаха споразумението за общо явяване на изборите". novini.bg (in Bulgarian). 10 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Скандалите между ПП и ДБ за листите са тихи! Засега!". zonanews.bg (in Bulgarian). 7 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Тихи засега скандали за листите в неродената още нова дясна коалиция". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 7 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Даниел Лорер: Има търкания при реденето на листите, но ще ги преодолеем". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 18 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Владислав Панев: Ще подредим листата така, че хората да са доволни". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Бивш зам.-министър открои пропуски в правителственото решение за "Капитан Андреево"". mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). 13 October 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Иван Христанов напуска ПП". news.bg (in Bulgarian). 10 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Иван Христанов остава извън листите на Промяната". offnews.bg (in Bulgarian). 5 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  26. ^ "Христанов: Лагерите са обособени, не искам да съм част от този агресивен разговор". banker.bg (in Bulgarian). 10 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Нов скандал в "Промяната" и обвинения в измяна, защото отстъпили на ДБ за водач в София област". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 17 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Скандал в "Промяната": Структура видя измяна в решение на Петков и Василев". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 17 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Александър Дунчев обвини в задкулисие "Продължаваме промяната"". dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). 19 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Йордан Терзийски: Дунчев е решил да продължи своето развитие извън листите на ПП". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 27 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Андрей Гюров за листите на ПП и ДБ: Не може да се говори за задкулисни решения". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 19 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Драма в ДБ в Пиринско заради листата, отказват се номинирани". www.24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 27 February 2023.
  33. ^ "ПП и ДБ откриха кампанията си, Явор Божанков на първа линия сравни политици с миксери". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 19 February 2023.
  34. ^ "Явор Божанков: С БСП не сме в никакви отношения". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 19 February 2023.
  35. ^ "ПП и ДБ: В 5 стъпки всеки българин да може да има нормален европейски живот, има как". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 3 March 2023.
  36. ^ "За Нас". Има Как - 12 (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  37. ^ "ПП – ДБ регистрираха листите си за вота на 2 април - Избори - Новини Бг". Novini.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  38. ^ "Mitte-Rechts-Bündnis nun doch in Führung". Tagesschau (in German). 3 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Central Electoral Commission, decision №1662". cik.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  40. ^ "Изключеният от БСП Явор Божанков се кандидатира за депутат от ПП и ДБ". Reuters (in Bulgarian). 16 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  41. ^ "Радостин Василев: Пълни лъжи са, че са правени записи по групите и централите". 24chasa (in Bulgarian). 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  42. ^ ""Зелено движение" не иска вече с ПП-ДБ, отива без тях на изборите" (in Bulgarian). 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  43. ^ "Партия "Средна Европейска Класса" напуска ПП-ДБ" (in Bulgarian). 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  44. ^ "Ивайло Мирчев: "Волт" не са отстранени от коалицията заради "Да, България"". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  45. ^ news.bg (4 September 2024). "Партия ВОЛТ остава извън коалицията ПП-ДБ". News.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  46. ^ "Former Bulgarian Socialist: If something made me a Convinced European, it was My Stay in Moscow - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  47. ^ "Явор Божанков ще води листата на коалицията ПП – ДБ в Габрово". bTV Новините (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  48. ^ "Владислав Панев напуска "Зелено движение" след решението на партията да се отцепи от ПП-ДБ". mediapool.
  49. ^ "Окончателно: Цветан Цветанов: Ще подкрепим по места кандидатите на ДБ и ПП" (in Bulgarian).
  50. ^ "БЗНС подкрепя обединението на ПП и ДБ". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  51. ^ "Има как". Facebook. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  52. ^ a b ""Екипът на София", ДБ, ПП и "Спаси София" обсъждат обща коалиция на местния вот". nova.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  53. ^ a b c d e "ПП и ДБ откриха кампанията си, Явор Божанков на първа линия сравни политици с миксери". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 22 February 2023.
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