site.btaBotevgrad Mayor Bans Rally by MRF – New Beginning

Botevgrad Mayor Ivan Gavalyugov has issued an order banning the holding of a rally organized by MRF – New Beginning, shows a document was published on the official website of the Botevgrad Municipality on Tuesday.

The rally was to take place on Tuesday evening in the city park as part of several rallies the party is organizing in the country. In the order, Gavalyugov stressed that after publishing information about the organized event on social networks and in local electronic media, a wave of dissatisfaction, disagreement and open indignation has arisen over the choice of Botevgrad as the venue for a rally in support of the Government, organized specifically by MRF – New Beginning.

According to the document, the residents of Botevgrad are mainly indignant due to the justified assumption that, given the lack of an active local political party structure and significant support in the Botevgrad Municipality - as evidenced by the results of numerous national, European and local elections - supporters from other populated areas will participate in the event. This will create the wrong impression that the local community is expressing an opinion and showing authentic support. The Mayor also expressed concern at the possibility of a mass counter-protest, which would undoubtedly lead to a serious risk of provocations, escalation of tension and even physical clashes between protesters and counter-protesters.

The order can be appealed before Sofia Region's Administrative Court. The appeal would not stop the execution of this order, the document noted.

On November 26 and December 1, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria organized large-scale protests against the 2026 draft state budget that led to calls for the resignation of the Rosen Zhelyazkov Cabinet. On both dates, many protesters held up signs mocking MRF - New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski, who was described by the organizers as the person taking the decisions in this Government even though his parliamentary group is not officially part of the governing coalition.  In 2021, he was designated by the United States under the Global Magnitsky Act for corruption and influence peddling. He is challenging the designation in a US court, with his lawyers arguing that there is no evidence of wrongdoing. In 2023, the United Kingdom also sanctioned Peevski for his alleged involvement “in attempts to exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society through bribery and the use of his media empire.”

On November 27, Peevski commented on the first protest, saying that "No one will take power through the streets," describing as abnormal for MPs “to be chased from office to office, harassed and told ‘go downstairs’" to meet the protesters. “Do they want me to block Parliament every day and call them downstairs?” the MRF - New Beginning Floor Leader added, arguing that he has no fewer supporters.

After the second protest, he said that “only my supporters can ask for my resignation, and they will continue to give me more and more trust - we all see it,” adding that “everyone has the right to support their parties, but I advise them not to sow hatred - ethnic or against MRF." Peevski argued that "my brothers - Turks, Pomaks, and Roma,” were showed on screens at the protests, adding that he would not allow such things.  “If they sow hatred, they will reap hatred. I warn them not to divide people,” he said. Asked where he saw an insult, Peevski replied, “Watch - they showed it.”