site.btaUPDATED Continue the Change Proposes Joint Parliamentary Alliance with Democratic Bulgaria, Two Groups to Register in Parliament

Continue the Change party invited the parties from Democratic Bulgaria to sign an agreement for the creation of a joint parliamentary alliance under the slogan "Strong Bulgaria in a Strong Europe", Continue the Change said in a press release on Wednesday. 

The proposal envisages joint work on key national and European priorities, including the rule of law, the independence of institutions, a real fight against corruption and the dismantling of the "Borissov-Peevski model", referring to GERB leader Boyko Borissov and Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski, as well as the nomination of a joint candidate for President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

It also places emphasis on judicial reform, modernization of public administration, reducing administrative burdens, sustainable economic growth and increasing incomes.

The agreement sets out clear rules for coordination between the formations, including joint legislative initiatives and regular meetings to align positions on important national and local issues.

It also provides for a common approach to key political processes, including local elections.

Continue the Change said it is ready for constructive partnership based on transparency, mutual respect and responsibility to citizens, with the aim of protecting democratic values and strengthening Bulgaria's European path.

The proposal comes amid ongoing discussions within the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria coalition about preserving a single parliamentary group and strengthening internal coordination.

On April 24, the National Council of Yes, Bulgaria tasked the party with proposing to Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria and Continue the Change a draft coalition agreement, as the coalition still does not have a formal agreement in place.

Before a key parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday, Yes, Bulgaria co-leaders Ivaylo Mirchev and Bozhidar Bozhanov publicly reaffirmed their support for maintaining unity within the coalition and keeping a single parliamentary group. Continue the Change leader Assen Vassilev also spoke before the meeting but refused to comment on the topic. 

After the meeting, Vassilev announced to journalists the alliance proposition and said that "clearly two parliamentary groups will be registered".  

Vassilev said Continue the Change had proposed to Democratic Bulgaria a common parliamentary alliance for joint action and reaffirmed that the two formations would run together in the upcoming presidential election, alongside the Forum for Democratic Action.

Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria will also run together in the upcoming partial local elections in Sofia's Sredets District and are expected to support the candidacy of Traicho Traikov, who is currently caretaker energy minister.

The two formations will continue to work together in municipal councils where they already have joint groups.

"We are moving forward together with a parliamentary alliance. The only difference is that on the board in the National Assembly there will be two parliamentary groups," Vassilev said.

He explained that when Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria had separate parliamentary groups in 2022, it became clear that some voters positioned further to the right were reluctant to support the joint formation because they viewed CC’s policies as too left-wing.

"We believe they [the policies of Continue the Change] are centrist, but some people are dissatisfied. There are also colleagues who believe that some of Democratic Bulgaria's policies are too right-wing. In addition, in Europe we belong to two different families – we [Continue the Change] are in ALDE, while they [DEmocratic Bulgaria] are in the EPP," Vassilev said.

He added that he hoped their colleagues in the European People's Party would work to ensure the EPP distances itself from parties whose candidate lists include people sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act.

"Overall, I expect us to have very clear policies, united on key issues – the Supreme Judicial Council, judicial reform," Vassilev said.

On the budget, he recalled that the parliamentary group had previously been split evenly in its voting.

According to Vassilev, their voters are fully aware of how they vote, as shown by the large number of preference votes. He said Bulgaria was now entering a completely new political moment, with one governing party holding 131 votes in the National Assembly and a four-year governing horizon.

In his view, this would create an opportunity for calmer political work and allow each formation to develop its own political identity. He denied that the split was caused by disagreements over candidate lists for the elections.

The division of the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) parliamentary group would be a serious political mistake that creates risks for Bulgaria's development, Atanas Atanassov, chair of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB), part of Democratic Bulgaria, told journalists after the meeting.