site.btaDemocratic Community to Sign Agreement on Single Presidential Candidate by Christmas - DSB Leader Atanassov

Before Christmas, the democratic community is going to sign an agreement on a single candidate for next year's presidential elections, said Atanas Atanassov, leader of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), which is part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition. Speaking to journalists here on Sunday after a meeting of the DSB Executive Council, he also said that the party is already preparing for the 2026 presidential elections, which, according to him, will be the next regular elections in the country.

"Back in the summer, we began talks on uniting the democratic community around a single candidate. We hope to sign an agreement with our coalition partners and the Forum for Democratic Action civic association before Christmas," Atanassov said. In his words, Bulgaria needs a staunch democrat, oriented towards the West, with authority and political experience. "We are not looking for a purely party candidate, but a personality with a broad public profile who can unite the democratic community," the DSB leader explained.

Atanassov outlined several topics that were the focus of the DSB Executive Council meeting in Sliven, including the governance of the country. According to him, there is an "alternative centre for making management decisions" that is different from the official government: the real power is exercised by the leaders of GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski. "In practice, they dictate all key decisions in the country and systematically work to control the repressive apparatus – the security services, the Ministry of Interior, and the Anti-Corruption Commission," Atanassov said. According to him, these institutions are used as "clubs against the opposition," which poses serious risks to democracy and national security. The DSB insists on restoring the real governance of the government and ending parallel governance behind the scenes.

On the draft state budget for 2026, he said that the financial framework is based on unrealistic revenues of around BGN 4-5 billion, while spending is increasing in areas prone to corruption. "Hubs for theft are being created, not for development. We will not support this budget, not because we are the opposition, but because it is harmful," Atanassov said. He stressed that his party is proposing measures to curb bloated administration and tighten control over public spending. "The State feeds the nomenclature, not the citizens," the general added.

He touched on the topic of national security and said that the greatest risk comes from Russia's war against Ukraine and the inadequate response of Bulgarian institutions. "There is tolerance, even quiet cooperation from the Bulgarian services toward the Russian presence in our country," Atanassov argued. As an example, the leader of the DSB pointed to a property near the Iskar Dam, used by the Russian Embassy, without documents and in violation of the sanitary zone. "This property is State-owned, but the Russians have been using it for decades. It is a risky location – close to the dam wall. And despite our warnings, the State is doing nothing," he said. Atanasov announced that the DSB would refer the matter to NATO institutions, demanding a response to Russian influence in Bulgaria.

Regarding statements about the possible acquisition of Lukoil by the State-owned Bulgarian Energy Holding, Atanassov said that the idea carries serious risks. "Lukoil is private, foreign-owned property. It is not clear who will sell it and how. If the State allows itself to sell off parts of the company, it could lead to an international scandal and lawsuits against Bulgaria," he warned. Atanassov insisted that the State exercise control over the company's management and revenues so that "fuel revenues do not go to Russia," but stressed that nationalization is an extreme and dangerous measure. "We must think about Bulgaria's interests, not about foreign political flirtations," added the DSB leader.