PP–DB
PP–DB (Bulgarian: ПП–ДБ) is an electoral coalition between We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria in Bulgaria. The two groupings merged prior to the 2023 election.[1][2]
We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria Продължаваме Промяната – Демократична България | |
|---|---|
![]() | |
| Leaders | Kiril Petkov Asen Vasilev Hristo Ivanov |
| Founded | 13 February 2023 |
| Ideology | Liberalism Anti-corruption Pro-Europeanism |
| Political position | Centre to centre-right |
| National Assembly | 73 / 240 |
| European Parliament | 1 / 17 |
Background
Bulgarian political crisis
Following numerous corruption scandals linked to the governing GERB party,[3] several anti-corruption parties made breakthroughs in the April 2021 election. One of such parties was the liberal-conservative group, Democratic Bulgaria (DB).[4][5] 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.[6] Before the November election, two popular ministers from Stefan Yanev's first interim government, Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev formed a new centrist political force, the We Continue the Change (PP).[6] 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).[7]
The government fell after less than 7 months in power, after ITN pulled out due to disagreements over the Budget and Macedonian accession to the European Union.[8] The government was voted out in a Vote of No Confidence.[9] President Rumen Radev called an election in October 2022, in which both PP fell back to second behind GERB.[10] No government could be formed as a result of the election, and so a further election is to be held in April 2023.
Formation
The alliance was announced on 10 February 2023. The alliance's stated aim is to get the most votes in the April 2023 election, giving them the first chance of forming a government.[2] A joint declaration titled "We continue together" was signed on 13 February 2023 by representatives of PP, DaB!, DSB and Green Movement, formally announcing the formation of the alliance.[11]
Ideology and platform
In their joint declaration the coalition laid out their main policy proposals in 13 points, including:[11]
- 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
| Party | Leader | Ideology | Position | MPs | MEPs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We Continue the Change (PP) | Kiril Petkov Asen Vasilev |
Liberalism Anti-corruption |
Centre | 47 / 240 |
0 / 17 | |
| Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) | Atanas Atanasov | Conservatism Economic liberalism |
Centre-right to right-wing |
20 / 240 |
1 / 17 | |
| Yes, Bulgaria! (DaB!) | Hristo Ivanov | Liberalism Anti-corruption |
Centre to centre-right |
0 / 17 | ||
| Green Movement (ZD) | Borislav Sandov Vladislav Panev |
Green politics Social liberalism |
Centre | 0 / 17 | ||
| Middle European Class (SEC) | Georgi Manev | Economic liberalism Burgas regionalism |
Centre-right | 4 / 240 |
0 / 17 | |
| Volt Bulgaria (Volt) | Nastimir Ananiev | European federalism Social liberalism |
Centre to centre-left |
2 / 240 |
0 / 17 | |
Potential members
The following parties have expresssed interest in joining the coalition:
| Party | Leader | Ideology | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria for Citizens Movement (DBG)[12] | Dimitar Delchev | Liberalism Pro-Europeanism |
Centre to centre-right | |
| United People's Party (ENP)[13] | Valentina Vasileva-Filadelfevs | Liberalism Pro-Europeanism |
Centre-right | |
| Dignity of United People (DEN)[14] | Naiden Zelenogorski | Liberal conservatism Liberalism |
Centre-right | |
| Spasi Sofia (SS) | Boris Bonev | Regionalism Liberalism |
Centre | |
| We Are Coming (NI) | Nikolay Hadjigenov | Anti-establishment Anti-corruption |
Centre | |
References
- Зехирова, Златина (2023-02-10). ""Продължаваме промяната - Демократична България" e коалицията, която ще участва на изборите". Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- Зехирова, Златина (2023-02-10). ""Продължаваме промяната - Демократична България" e коалицията, която ще участва на изборите". Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- "Bulgaria's president calls nation's 5th election in 2 years". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- "Parties and Elections in Europe". www.parties-and-elections.eu. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- "Резултати :: Парламентарни избори 4 април 2021". results.cik.bg. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- "New centrist faction to run in Bulgaria's third election this year". Reuters. 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- "Bulgarian parliament backs Kiril Petkov as PM". POLITICO. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- "Bulgaria's ITN party exits coalition government". Reuters. 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- "Bulgaria government collapses after no-confidence vote – DW – 06/22/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- "Резултати :: Избори за народни представители 02 октомври 2022". results.cik.bg. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- "ПП и ДБ официално подписаха споразумението за общо явяване на изборите". novini.bg (in Bulgarian). 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- "С Лили Маринкова във 🎬 Въпросите говорихме за". Facebook. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- "Валентина Василева-Филаделфевс: "Опасенията ми за страната са, че "партиите на промяната" отново няма да стигнем до единен блок, а тази година предстоят най-важните избори за страната - местните". Facebook. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- "Съединението прави силата!". Facebook. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
