We Continue the Change

Political party and electoral alliance in Bulgaria

We Continue the Change (Bulgarian: Продължаваме промяната, romanized: Prodalzhavame promyanata; PP), sometimes translated as Change Continues,[2][3] is a centrist, anti-corruption political party and formerly an electoral alliance in Bulgaria led by Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev,[4][1] two former caretaker ministers. It was founded ahead of the November 2021 election.[5] The party was officially registered on 15 April.[6]

History

Background and formation

2021–2023 party logo

The controversial third Borisov government, a coalition between the conservative GERB and the nationalist United Patriots alliance, with the support of the populist Volya Movement, sparked mass protests over corruption allegations, which led to the rise of several new parties and populist movements. At the end of the term of the National Assembly, a parliamentary election was held in April 2021, which saw the minor coalition partners fail to reach the 4% threshold. Instead several anti-Borisov parties and electoral coalitions entered parliament (ITN, DB and IBG-NI), with a combined 92 seats. None of them were willing to form a government with any of the other "status quo" parties (BSP, GERB and DPS) and the BSP was unwilling to work with GERB. Thus no government could be formed and a snap election was scheduled to take place in July. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev appointed an interim government.

Several ministers from the interim government became outspoken critics of Borisov and his allies. This included Interior minister Boyko Rashkov, Finance minister Asen Vasilev, Economy minister Kiril Petkov and Education minister Nikolai Denkov. The July 2021 election saw the three "protest parties" make gains to a total of 112 seats, and ITN surpassed GERB to become the winning party. However no government could be formed, and another snap election was scheduled to take place in November, alongside the presidential election. Three of the anti-Borisov interim ministers (Asen Vasilev, Kiril Petkov and Nikolai Denkov) had been offered to join ITN's government, however, they refused the offer.[7]

Petkov and Vasilev stated that they would start their own political project that would be an alternative anti-corruption party which could be seen as a "uniting force" between the other parties.[8] A new interim government was appointed by president Radev which did not include ministers Petkov and Vasilev.[9] Their party was officially launched on 17 September 2021, following a month-long speculation about its creation.[10] The two former ministers were coined the "Harvard boys" by the media, as both had been educated there.[11][12][13]

November 2021 election

Since the party was created too late to have its own registration, it had to compete in the elections within an electoral coalition alongside one or more registered member parties. This was done through Volt Bulgaria and Middle European Class,[14] with the former being a party that recently left the parliamentary coalition IBG-NI.

For the 2021 presidential election, Petkov and Vasilev declared their support for the incumbent President Rumen Radev.[15] The party favoured working with the anti-establishment parties, not in a pre-electoral coalition, but instead in the form of an agreement of cooperation following the November election.[16] There was speculation it may join a coalition with BSP for Bulgaria. It did not rule out working with GERB–SDS or DPS, but Petkov set out harsh conditions if they were to cooperate.[17][18]

In the November election, the party came out on top with over 25% of the vote and 67 of the 240 seats. It was given the mandate to form a government on 13 December 2021, and formed a broad coalition between the anti-establishment parties There Is Such a People and Democratic Bulgaria, alongside the leftist BSP for Bulgaria.[19][20] The government, led by Petkov, set out to remove corruption within the country and counter the problems faced by Bulgaria, including the energy crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.[21][22]

Petkov government

The new government included five ministers from the interim governments that preceded it - Petkov, Vasilev, Rashkov, Denkov and former prime minister Stefan Yanev. Yanev was dismissed following his refusal to label the Russo-Ukrainian conflict as a war.[23] The government became a minority government on 8 June 2022, when ITN pulled out of it.[24] Several weeks later, it became was the first government in Bulgarian history to lose a vote of confidence. As the largest party, they were given the first mandate to form another government. Their nominee was Asen Vasilev, who returned the mandate unfulfilled.[25] No party was able to form another government and a new election was scheduled to take place.

During the period of the government, the party was officially registered,[6][26] despite legal challenges regarding the party name.[27]

2022 parliamentary election

The new election saw PP fall to second place with 19.5% and 53 seats, behind GERB. As the second largest party, they were given a mandate for government formation following the rejection of GERB's candidate by the National Assembly. Their candidate for Prime Minister was Nikolai Denkov,[28] who did not receive a majority in Parliament. PP refused to join in talks with BSP, and new elections will be scheduled for Spring 2023.[29][30]

2023 parliamentary election

We Continue the Change (PP) decided to contest the 2023 election together with the alliance Democratic Bulgaria. In the elections, PP won 36 seats as part of the coalition.

Ideology and platform

PP is a centrist party,[31] although it has been also described as a centre-left[32] or a centre-right party.[33][34] Ideologically, it has been described as a liberal,[35][36][37][38] and social-liberal party.[39] A pro-European[40] and anti-corruption party,[38][41] economically, its main goals are to create a favourable economic and administrative environment for the free development of small and medium-sized businesses and to attract strategic high-tech investments and was called third way for Bulgarian standards.[42] On a more political level, they seek to stop corruption and misuse of state funds as well as uphold the rule of law.[43] Priority for government formation is the access to quality education and healthcare for all Bulgarian citizens, modern infrastructure. They also stress social policy, in particular improving pensions for retired people.[44]

For the 2021 parliamentary elections, the coalition campaigned on a vague platform to attract voters of different persuasions, with particular emphasis on the corruption of the former government of Boyko Borisov. Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev, both businessmen, were seen as pro-business and advocated anchoring Bulgaria in the European Union and NATO.[45]

National affiliation

2021–2022 (We Continue the Change)

In 2021 and 2022 PP ran in a coalition of the same name, "We continue the change", alongside two smaller "mandate carrier" parties, Volt Bulgaria, and Middle European Class (SEC),[46] which surrendered their party lists up to the coalition to be used at the election.[47] Additionally for the November 2021 election, the Political Movement "Social Democrats" was a part of the electoral coalition and the Union of Free Democrats unofficially supported it.

Party Abbr. Leader Ideology Nov. 2021 result 2022 result
We Continue the Change PP Kiril Petkov & Asen Vasilev Centrism
Pro-Europeanism
Anti-corruption
61 / 240
47 / 240
Middle European Class SEC Georgi Manev Economic liberalism
Burgas regionalism
Pro-Europeanism
4 / 240
4 / 240
Volt Bulgaria Volt Nastimir Ananiev European federalism
Social liberalism
Progressivism
2 / 240
2 / 240
Political Movement "Social Democrats" PDS Elena Noneva Social democracy
Pro-Europeanism
0 / 240
 Not in alliance
Union of Free Democrats[48] SSD Milan Milanov Conservatism Support outside
official registration 		Not in alliance

2023-present (PP–DB)

Ahead of the 2023 election PP merged with another anti-corruption coalition, DB.[49] The two had worked closely together in the previous parliament. They were supported by other anti-corruption parties, some of which had been a part of IBG-NI.

Party Leader Ideology Position 2023 result
We Continue the Change (PP) Kiril Petkov
Asen Vasilev 		Liberalism
Anti-corruption 		Centre
36 / 240
Yes, Bulgaria! (DaB!) Hristo Ivanov Liberalism
Anti-corruption 		Centre to
centre-right
13 / 240
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) Atanas Atanasov Conservatism
Economic liberalism 		Centre-right to
right-wing
10 / 240
Green Movement (ZD) Borislav Sandov
Vladislav Panev 		Green politics
Social liberalism 		Centre
3 / 240
Middle European Class (SEC) Georgi Manev Economic liberalism
Burgas regionalism 		Centre-right
1 / 240
Volt Bulgaria (Volt) Nastimir Ananiev European federalism
Social liberalism 		Centre to
centre-left
1 / 240
United Agrarians[a][50] Petya Straleva Agrarianism Centre-right —
  1. ^ The party is an official member of the coalition, but has not been registered as such by the Central Electoral Commission.

Election results

The coalition took part in the November 2021 Bulgarian election, coming in first place with 25.67% of the vote and 67 seats.[51][52] At the election, the coalition won 67 seats. 4 went to SEC and 2 seats were won by Volt. The main 'We Continue the Change' party won the rest of the seats. In 2022, the electoral coalition dropped down to second place behind GERB–SDS, with 53 seats overall.[53]

National Assembly

National Assembly
Election Leader Votes % Alliance Seats Party Seats +/– Government
Nov 2021[a] 673,170 25.32 (#1)
67 / 240
61 / 67
 New Coalition
2022[a] 506,099 19.52 (#2)
53 / 240
47 / 53
 Decrease 14 Snap election
2023[b] 619,592 23.53 (#2)
64 / 240
36 / 64
 Decrease 9 Coalition
  1. ^ a b Run as part of the We Continue the Change coalition.
  2. ^ Run as part of the PP–DB coalition.

References

  1. ^ a b "European Election Watch Bulgaria". Center for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  2. ^ Gotev, Georgi (2021-11-15). "'Change continues' is the surprise winner of Bulgarian elections". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  3. ^ "Analysis | Bulgaria is no closer to a stable government after Sunday's elections". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  4. ^ "New centrist faction seeks to form 'Coalition of the honest' in Bulgaria". www.euractiv.com. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  5. ^ "New centrist faction to run in Bulgaria's third election this year". Reuters. 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  6. ^ a b "След 4 месеца във властта Петков и Василев ще учредят партия". СЕГА (in Bulgarian). 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  7. ^ "Why three interim ministers refused to join a future ITN government?" (in Bulgarian). 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  8. ^ "New centrist faction to run in Bulgaria's third election this year". Reuters. 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  9. ^ "Three new ministers in "Yanev 2"" (in Bulgarian). 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  10. ^ "Петков и Василев представят утре политическия си проект в емблематична сграда". Dnes.dir.bg. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  11. ^ "The Harvard Name Shouldn't Have Decided Bulgaria's Election | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  12. ^ Tsolova, Tsvetelia (2021-12-13). "Harvard-educated Petkov elected as Bulgaria's prime minister". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  13. ^ "'Harvard Boys' Take On EU Graft Spot Bulgaria in Cabinet Try". Bloomberg.com. 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  14. ^ ""Волт" и "Средна европейска класа" правят коалиция "Продължаваме промяната" | Вестник "ДУМА"". duma.bg. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  15. ^ Marica.bg (2021-09-19). "Кирил Петков & Асен Василев огласиха кандидата си за президе..." marica.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  16. ^ "Petkov: We Shouldn't Run in Elections with a Common List with Democratic Bulgaria - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  17. ^ ""Демократична България" предлага предизборна коалиция на "Промяната продължава" | Вестник "ДУМА"". duma.bg. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  18. ^ ""We Continue the Change" Set Conditions for Collaboration with GERB and MRF". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  19. ^ "Four Bulgarian parties agree to form centrist-led government". euronews. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  20. ^ "Bulgarian Lawmakers To Vote To Elect New Prime Minister, OK Coalition Government". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  21. ^ "The New Cabinet: Everyone in the Council of Ministers with a Green Certificate - Petkov's First Order - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  22. ^ "Bulgaria: Kiril Petkov Presented the Cabinet and the New Policies - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  23. ^ "Bulgarian PM fires defense minister for promoting Putin's spin". POLITICO. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  24. ^ "Bulgaria's ITN party exits coalition government". Reuters. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Политическата криза се задълбочава - ПП върна мандата неизпълнен (Обзор)". bntnews.bg/ (in Bulgarian). 2022-08-07.
  26. ^ "Registry of political parties". sgs.justice.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  27. ^ "Формацията на Петков и Василев и кметът на Добрич в спор за слогана "Продължаваме Промяната"". nova.bg (in Bulgarian). 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  28. ^ "Bulgaria's We Continue the Change party names former education minister as candidate PM". sofiaglobe.com. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Attempt To Form New Government In Bulgaria Fails Again; New Elections Expected In Spring". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  30. ^ "BSP returns the Third Mandate to Form a Government on Monday - Bulgarians are Going to Elections - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  31. ^
    • Tsolova, Tsvetelia (November 14, 2021). "New anti-graft centrist party seen winning Bulgaria's election". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
    • "Once in power, PP became a centrist party that would live on the Internet". April 14, 2022 – via epicenter.bg.
    • "Asen Vasilev: "We Continue the Change" isn't a right wing, but a centrist party". August 14, 2022 – via mediapool.bg.
    • ""We Continue the Change" decides on a coalition with "Democratic Bulgaria" by Tuesday". August 14, 2022 – via svobodnaevropa.bg.
  32. ^ Todorov, Svetoslav (2022-09-30). "Bulgaria Goes to Another Knife-Edge Election on Sunday". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  33. ^ "Bulgaria's We Continue the Change to return mandate to form govt". seenews.com. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  34. ^ correspondent, Cristian Gherasim, Bucharest. "Bulgaria's new government and the challenges ahead - EU Reporter". www.eureporter.co. Retrieved 2023-02-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ Milcheva, Emiliya; Nikolov, Krasen (February 21, 2022). "Bau von russischem Atomkraftwerk spaltet Bulgarien". Euractiv – via www.euractiv.de.
  36. ^ "Bulgaria's president calls nation's 5th election in 2 years". AP NEWS. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  37. ^ "Former Bulgarian premier faces struggle to build coalition". Financial Times. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  38. ^ a b Nordsieck, Wolfram (2021). "Bulgaria". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  39. ^ Casal Bértoa, Fernando; Yovcheva, Teodora (2022-10-01). "What to expect from Bulgaria's latest parliamentary election". European Politics and Policy. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  40. ^ Bedrov, Ivan; Dimitrova, Desislava (2022-10-02). "For Putin, Against 'Global Liberalism': Why So Many Bulgarian Parties Support Russia". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  41. ^ "Принципи и приоритети - Продължаваме Промяната заедно". Продължаваме Промяната. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  42. ^ "За седми път по Третия път в търсене на спасител". 24 часа. September 25, 2021.
  43. ^ ""Продължаваме промяната" постигна коалиционно споразумение с още една партия - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини". bntnews.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  44. ^ Capital.bg. "Асен Василев: Нека започнем разговор за това какво е важно и как да бъде изпълнено". www.capital.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  45. ^ "En Bulgarie, un parti anticorruption crée la surprise aux législatives". Le Monde.fr. 15 November 2021.
  46. ^ "Another Party Joins "We Continue the Change" - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  47. ^ "Лидерът на "Средна европейска класа": Ще се явим на вота с ПП". dariknews.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  48. ^ "Партията на Софиянски подкрепя Радев и 'Продължаваме промяната'". OFFNews.bg (in Bulgarian). 2021-10-07.
  49. ^ Зехирова, Златина (2023-02-10). ""Продължаваме промяната - Демократична България" e коалицията, която ще участва на изборите". Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  50. ^ "ЦИК отказа да регистрира промяна в състава на коалицията ПП-ДБ". 24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  51. ^ "Резултати :: Избори за президент и вицепрезидент и народни представители 14 ноември 2021". results.cik.bg. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
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  53. ^ "Резултати :: Избори за народни представители 02 октомври 2022". results.cik.bg. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
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National Assembly
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