We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria
Продължаваме промяната – Демократична България
Abbreviation PP–DB
Leader Assen Vassilev
Bozhidar Bozhanov
Ivaylo Mirchev
Atanas Atanasov
Parliamentary leader Nikolai Denkov
Nadezhda Yordanova[1]
Founders Kiril Petkov
Assen Vassilev
Hristo Ivanov
Atanas Atanasov
Founded 13 February 2023
Ideology
  • Liberalism[2]
  • Anti-corruption[3]
  • Pro-Europeanism[4]
Political position Centre[9] to centre-right[10]
European affiliation Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (PP)
European People's Party (DSB)
European Parliament group Renew Europe (PP)
European People's Party Group (DSB)
Coalition members We Continue the Change
Yes, Bulgaria!
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria
Colours   Indigo
Slogan Има Как
('There is a Way')
National Assembly
36 / 240
European Parliament
3 / 17
Municipalities
7 / 265
Sofia City Council
12 / 61
Website
ppdb.bg
  • Politics of Bulgaria
  • Political parties
  • Elections

We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Продължаваме промяната – Демократична България, romanized: Prodŭlzhavame promyanata – Demokratichna Bŭlgariya), also known simply as PP–DB, is a Bulgarian electoral coalition between We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria (DaB and DSB).[11] The alliance was formed prior to the 2023 election.[12] The coalition was part of the Denkov Government between 2023 and 2024.

Background

Bulgarian political crisis

Main article: 2021–present Bulgarian political crisis

Following numerous corruption scandals linked to the governing GERB party,[13] several anti-corruption parties made breakthroughs in the April 2021 election. One of such parties was the liberal-conservative group, Democratic Bulgaria (DB).[14][15] Due to the resulting political deadlock, no government could be formed and the country would go onto face two further elections in 2021, one in July and one in November.[16] Before the November election, two popular ministers from Stefan Yanev's first interim government, Kiril Petkov and Assen Vassilev formed a new centrist political force, the We Continue the Change (PP).[16] PP would go on to win the November election, and negotiated a government with DB, alongside the Socialist Party (BSP) and another anti-corruption party There Is Such a People (ITN).[17]

The government fell after less than seven months in power, after ITN pulled out due to disagreements over the Budget and Macedonian accession to the European Union.[18] The government was voted out in a Vote of No Confidence.[19] President Rumen Radev called an election in October 2022, in which PP fell back to second behind GERB.[20] No government could be formed as a result of the election, and so a further election was set to be held in April 2023.[21]

Formation

The alliance was announced on 10 February 2023. The alliance's stated aim was to get the most votes in the April 2023 election, giving them the first chance of forming a government.[12] A joint declaration titled “We Continue Together” was signed on 13 February 2023 by representatives of PP, Yes, Bulgaria!, Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, and the Green Movement (ZD), formally announcing the formation of the alliance.[22]

History

2023–2024

There were disagreements between members of the alliance over the orders and members of regional lists.[23][24] Prior to the final announcement and submission of the regional lists, some PP members left the party, notably MPs Ivan Hristanov and Alexander Dunchev.[25][26][27][28][29] On 27 February, Ivan Dimitrov, a DB MP and candidate from Blagoevgrad announced that he would be withdrawing from politics, citing problems with the joint list.[30]

Following the 2023 election, where the coalition placed second, they negotiated and formed the rotational Denkov Government with GERB. Following nine months in power, negotiations around the rotation collapsed and the June 2024 snap election was scheduled.

2024–2026

Following the June 2024 election there was increasing speculation that the parties would separate, particularly following the alliance's poor performance, the resignation of Hristo Ivanov, SEK and the Green Movement left the alliance and internal disagreements regarding MP candidate selection. However the coalition ultimately continued, after negotiations.[31][32]

Following the October 2024 election, PP-DB requested a cordon sanitaire against DPS-NN.[33] In November the coalition proposed Atanas Atanasov as Chariman of Parliament and GERB expressed openness to the idea, as long as it led to negotiations for the formation of a government.[34] On 28 November, the gridlocked 51st National Assembly failed to elect a Chairman for the 7th time, with ITN's Silvi Kirilov (supported by all parties except GERB, DPS-NN and BSP-OL) falling two votes short, due to Daniel Lorer and Yavor Bozhankov not supporting his candidacy.[35] PP immediately moved to expell both members from the group, however DB was against the decision.[36] Nataliya Kiselova from BSP-OL was ultimately elected in early December, with the support of GERB, PP-DB BSP-OL and APS.[37]

GERB began negotiations for a government in late December with BSP-OL, ITN and PP-DB, with DPS-NN and APS specifically excluded by GERB.[38] PP did not attend the negotiations, due to GERB not having signed the cordon sanitaire declaration, however representatives of the parties of DB attended. In early January 2025 GERB announced the suspension of negotiations with DB.[39] Soon afterwards GERB announced the formation of the Zhelyazkov minority government between GERB, BSP-OL and ITN.[40] PP-DB announced they would be in opposition to the government but would abstain on votes of no confidence until the approval of Bulgaria's accession to the Eurozone in July 2025.[41] The government was supported by APS and later DPS-NN.

The coalition remained in opposition and supported the anti-government protests that broke out later that year. Following the resignation of the government and the scheduling of a snap election, the coalition announced it would include younger and protest-affiliated MP candidates in their electoral lists.[42] There were disagreements within the alliance, however following negotiations its member parties agreed to retain the coalition. One particular disagreement was whether to include Lorer and Bozhankov as MP candidates, with the parties ultimately agreeing to exclude both.[43]

Ideology and platform

On 3 March 2023, Bulgarian Liberation Day, PP–DB unveiled their slogan "There is a Way" and called for Bulgarians to come together to fight for change, proposing five steps that would ensure a "good European life for all Bulgarians":[44]

  • Joining the Eurozone in 2023
  • Joining the Schengen area in 2023
  • Investing millions into regional development, including especially strengthening farms
  • Diversifying Bulgaria's energy supply
  • Guaranteeing quality healthcare and education for all Bulgarians

Tagesschau described the PP–DB coalition as liberal-conservative, anti-corruption, and Atlanticist.[45]

In their joint declaration, the coalition laid out their main policy proposals in 13 points, including:[22]

  • Equal rights for all Bulgarian citizens
  • Judicial reform and equality before the law
  • Improving conditions for development of private business
  • Lowering carbon emissions and implementing environmental protection
  • Working towards energy independence
  • Further integration with the European Union and NATO and joining the Schengen Area and the Eurozone

Composition

Members and Structure

The coalition was registered ahead of the 2023 election and originally included six parties (PP, DSB, DaB!, Volt, SEK and ZD)[46] In addition, former BSP MP Yavor Bozhankov led the list in Gabrovo.[47]

On the 26th of May, Radostin Vasiliev, leader of Strong Bulgaria and nominally a PP MP, announced that he would be leaving the PP–DB group in order to become an independent, due to his frustration with internal corruption and the recent government deal with GERB-SDS.[48]

On 15 April 2024 the Green Movement left PP–DB.[49] On the 24th of April 2024, SEK also left PP–DB.[50]

Prior to the October 2024 election, Volt left the coalition following reports that DB pushed for them to be excluded.[51][52]

Party Leader Ideology Position 2023 MPs Jun 2024 MPs 2024 MEPs Oct 2024 MPs
PP Kiril Petkov
Assen Vassilev		 Liberalism
Anti-corruption		 Centre
36 / 240
[a]
22 / 240
2 / 17
19 / 240
DaB! Bozhidar Bozhanov
Ivaylo Mirchev		 Liberalism
Anti-corruption		 Centre to
centre-right
13 / 240
9 / 240
0 / 17
12 / 240
DSB Atanas Atanasov Conservatism
Conservative liberalism		 Centre-right to right-wing
10 / 240
8 / 240
1 / 17
6 / 240
Volt[b] Nastimir Ananiev European federalism
Social liberalism		 Centre to
centre-left
1 / 240
0 / 240
0 / 17
Not in alliance
ZD[b] Toma Belev Green politics
Environmentalism
Liberalism		 Centre to
centre-left
3 / 240
Not in alliance[c] Not in alliance Not in alliance[d]
SEK[b] Konstantin Bachiyski Economic liberalism
Burgas regionalism		 Centre-right
1 / 240
Not in alliance Not in alliance Not in alliance
OZ[b] Petya Stavreva Agrarianism Centre-right
0 / 240
[e]		 Not in alliance Not in alliance Not in alliance
  1. ^ During the term of the 49th National Assembly Radostin Vasilev left the PP-DB parliamentary group and founded MECh.
  2. ^ a b c d This party has left the alliance.
  3. ^ Former ZD members who had left the party ran on PP-DB's lists and were elected to Parliament.
  4. ^ Former ZD members who had left the party ran on PP-DB's lists.
  5. ^ Due to later MP resignations, OZ gained an MP during the term of the assembly.

Affiliated groups

Group Affiliation to PP–DB Leader Ideology Position Notes
Former BSP faction[53][54] Participating in PP–DB regional lists as individual members Yavor Bozhankov Pro-Europeanism
Social democracy		 Centre-left Bozhankov was an MP at the time of defection
Dissident Green Movement politicians[55] Participating in PP–DB regional lists as individual members Vladislav Panev Green liberalism
Green politics		 Centre Two MPs defected rather than split off, as the rest of the party did
Republicans for Bulgaria (RzB)[56] Endorsed PP–DB for the 2023 elections Tsvetan Tsvetanov Conservatism
Conservative liberalism		 Centre-right
0 / 240
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union (BZNS)[57] Political party that officially endorsed the PP–DB list Ilya Zyumbilev Agrarianism Centre
0 / 240
Dignity of United People (DEN)[58] Political party that officially endorsed the PP–DB list Naiden Zelenogorski Liberal conservatism
Liberalism		 Centre-right
0 / 240
Spasi Sofia[59] A political group based in Sofia which endorsed the coalition. Individual members may be part of the regional lists Borislav Bonev Sofia regionalism
Anti-corruption		 Centre N/a
Justice For All[60] A non-governmental organisation which endorsed the coalition Bilyana Gyaruva-Vegertseder Judicial reform
Anti-corruption		 Single-issue N/a
For Good[60] A charity organisation which endorsed the coalition Collective leadership Children's rights None N/a
Listen to Yourself[60] A public organisation for deaf and blind people that endorsed the coalition Collective leadership Sign language promotion

Deaf and blind interests

 None N/a
Center for Creative Justice Razgrad[60] A support group against domestic violence and for legal support based in Razgrad which endorsed the alliance Dimo Borisov Anti-domestic violence
Judicial reform		 None N/a
Three Women Foundation[60] A charity organisation which endorsed the alliance Collective Leadership None None N/a
Team for Sofia[59] A public organisation based in Sofia which endorsed the list Collective leadership Sofia regionalism
Technocracy		 Big tent N/a

Election results

National Assembly

Election Votes % Seats +/− Government
2023 621,069 23.54 (#2)
64 / 240
New Coalition
Jun 2024 307,849 14.33 (#3)
39 / 240
Decrease 25 Snap election
Oct 2024 346,063 14.20 (#2)
36 / 240
Decrease 3 Opposition
2026 408,845 14.20 (#3)
37 / 240
Increase 1 TBA

European Parliament

Election List leader Votes % Seats +/– EP Group
2024 Nikola Minchev 290,865 14.45 (#3)
3 / 17
New RE / EPP

References

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