site.btaYes, Bulgaria and Continue the Change Divided over Idea of Deeper Unity

It transpired Monday that Yes, Bulgaria and Continue the Change, two of the three parties in the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition, disagree on the idea for a deeper unity. As Yes, Bulgaria amplified their idea of last week to turn its long-standing informal cooperation with Continue the Change (CC) and Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) into a formal political project, potentially paving the way for a unified party, CC said they are far from a single party despite the shared goals. 

Yes, Bulgaria co-leader Bozhidar Bozhanov said the focus remains on voters and shared priorities, especially judicial reform, stressing that dialogue with CC is ongoing. "There is room for dialogue with Continue the Change, with voters on our mind," Bozhanov said on bTV. Bozhanov noted that while the three parties have worked together informally since February 2023, the idea of formalizing the coalition is now on the table, with a possible future step being full unification into one party.

Ivaylo Mirchev, also co-leader of Yes, Bulgaria, supported the idea of deeper integration, saying that a consolidated political structure is what voters expect. "Unification with DSB and Continue the Change is possible if all these entities agree," Mirchev said. "The informal coalition has performed well, but in elections people want to see a consolidated political project."

However, Continue the Change pushed back against the idea of an imminent merger. Former prime minister and CC deputy leader Nikolay Denkov said the parties remain aligned on goals but differ in how to achieve them. "We are very far from becoming one party with Yes, Bulgaria," Denkov said on Nova Television. "We share common goals, but we differ in the ways we think those goals should be achieved."

"We are not talking about a divorce, but about the fact that we can work together while each side develops its own strengths," he added. 

He argued that two alternatives are being proposed, both of which seem "very extreme". "One is to create a common party at the proposal of Yes, Bulgaria, and the other is that we are divorcing and will not speak to each other." He warned that rapid unification could limit electoral reach, particularly outside major urban areas, but confirmed that cooperation continues in key areas such as presidential elections.

He added that any decision on separate parliamentary groups would ultimately rest with the MPs themselves.