We Continue the Change

{{Main articles|2021–2023 Bulgarian political crisis}}

File:Logo_of_the_We_Continue_the_Change.svg

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.{{Cite news|date=2021-07-12|title=Why three interim ministers refused to join a future ITN government?|language=bg|url=https://bntnews.bg/news/zashto-trima-sluzhebni-ministri-otkazaha-da-se-vklyuchat-v-badeshto-pravitelstvo-na-itn-1162199news.html|access-date=2023-01-12}}

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.{{Cite news|date=2021-09-19|title=New centrist faction to run in Bulgaria's third election this year|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/new-centrist-faction-run-bulgarias-third-election-this-year-2021-09-19/|access-date=2021-09-30}} A new interim government was appointed by president Radev which did not include ministers Petkov and Vasilev.{{Cite news|date=2021-09-16|title=Three new ministers in "Yanev 2"|language=bg|url=https://bntnews.bg/news/trima-novi-ministri-v-kabineta-stefan-yanev-2-obzor-1169028news.html|access-date=2023-01-12}} Their party was officially launched on 17 September 2021, following a month-long speculation about its creation.{{Cite news|title=Петков и Василев представят утре политическия си проект в емблематична сграда|work=Dnes.dir.bg|url=https://m.dir.bg/dnes/politika/petkov-i-vasilev-predstavyat-utre-politicheskiya-si-proekt-v-emblematichna-sgrada|access-date=2021-09-19}} The two former ministers were coined the "Harvard boys" by the media, as both had been educated there.{{Cite web |title=The Harvard Name Shouldn't Have Decided Bulgaria's Election {{!}} Opinion {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/12/2/harvard-name-bulgaria-election/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=www.thecrimson.com}}{{Cite news |last=Tsolova |first=Tsvetelia |date=2021-12-13 |title=Harvard-educated Petkov elected as Bulgaria's prime minister |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/harvard-educated-petkov-elected-bulgarias-prime-minister-2021-12-13/ |access-date=2023-03-26}}{{Cite news |date=2021-11-26 |title='Harvard Boys' Take On EU Graft Spot Bulgaria in Cabinet Try |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-26/-harvard-boys-take-on-eu-trouble-spot-bulgaria-in-cabinet-push |access-date=2023-04-02}}

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,{{Cite web|title="Волт" и "Средна европейска класа" правят коалиция "Продължаваме промяната" {{!}} Вестник "ДУМА"|url=https://duma.bg/%E2%80%9Evolt%E2%80%9C-i-%E2%80%9Esredna-evropeyska-klasa%E2%80%9C-pravyat-koalitsiya-%E2%80%9Eprodalzhavame-promyanata%E2%80%9C-n245239|access-date=2021-09-20|website=duma.bg|date=20 September 2021 }} 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.{{Cite web|last=Marica.bg|date=2021-09-19|title=Кирил Петков & Асен Василев огласиха кандидата си за президе...|url=https://www.marica.bg/balgariq/kiril-petkov-asen-vasilev-oglasiha-kandidata-si-za-prezident-video|access-date=2021-10-01|website=marica.bg|language=bulgarian}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Petkov: We Shouldn't Run in Elections with a Common List with Democratic Bulgaria - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency |url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/211292/Petkov%3A+We+Shouldn%E2%80%99t+Run+in+Elections+with+a+Common+List+with+Democratic+Bulgaria |access-date=2021-09-24 |website=www.novinite.com}} 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.{{Cite web|title="Демократична България" предлага предизборна коалиция на "Промяната продължава" {{!}} Вестник "ДУМА"|url=https://duma.bg/demokratichna-balgariya-predlaga-predizborna-koalitsiya-na-promyanata-prodalzhava-n245183|access-date=2021-09-20|website=duma.bg|date=20 September 2021 }}{{Cite web|title="We Continue the Change" Set Conditions for Collaboration with GERB and MRF|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/211475/%22We+Continue+the+Change%22+Set+Conditions+for+Collaboration+with+GERB+and+MRF|access-date=2021-11-14|website=www.novinite.com}}

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.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-10|title=Four Bulgarian parties agree to form centrist-led government|url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/10/four-bulgarian-parties-agree-to-form-centrist-led-government|access-date=2021-12-13|website=euronews|language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Bulgarian Lawmakers To Vote To Elect New Prime Minister, OK Coalition Government|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-petkov-government-vote/31606371.html|access-date=2021-12-13|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=13 December 2021 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=The New Cabinet: Everyone in the Council of Ministers with a Green Certificate - Petkov's First Order - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/212703/The+New+Cabinet%3A+Everyone+in+the+Council+of+Ministers+with+a+Green+Certificate+-+Petkov%27s+First+Order|access-date=2021-12-13|website=www.novinite.com}}{{Cite web|title=Bulgaria: Kiril Petkov Presented the Cabinet and the New Policies - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/212681/Bulgaria%3A+Kiril+Petkov+Presented+the+Cabinet+and+the+New+Policies|access-date=2021-12-13|website=www.novinite.com}}

{{main|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 Russian invasion of Ukraine as a war.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-28 |title=Bulgarian PM fires defense minister for promoting Putin's spin |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/bulgaria-pm-fires-defense-minister-stefan-yanev-promote-vladimir-putin-spin/ |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}} The government became a minority government on 8 June 2022, when ITN pulled out of it.{{cite news |title=Bulgaria's ITN party exits coalition government |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgarias-itn-party-exits-coalition-government-2022-06-08/ |access-date=8 June 2022 |publisher=Reuters |date=8 June 2022}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-07 |title=Политическата криза се задълбочава - ПП върна мандата неизпълнен (Обзор) |url=https://bntnews.bg/news/politicheskata-kriza-se-zadalbochava-pp-varna-mandata-neizpalnen-obzor-1200956news.html |website=bntnews.bg/ |language=bg}} 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,{{Cite web |title=Registry of political parties |url=https://sgs.justice.bg/bg/14755 |access-date=2021-09-20 |website=sgs.justice.bg |language=bg}} despite legal challenges regarding the party name.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-05 |title=Формацията на Петков и Василев и кметът на Добрич в спор за слогана "Продължаваме Промяната" |url=https://nova.bg/news/view/2022/07/05/374755/%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%B8-%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B2-%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87-%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=nova.bg |language=bg}}

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,{{cite news |title=Bulgaria's We Continue the Change party names former education minister as candidate PM |url=https://sofiaglobe.com/2022/12/15/bulgarias-we-continue-the-change-party-names-former-education-minister-as-candidate-pm/ |access-date=8 June 2022 |website=sofiaglobe.com |date=15 December 2022}} 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.{{Cite news |title=Attempt To Form New Government In Bulgaria Fails Again; New Elections Expected In Spring |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-new-government-failed-attempt-elections/32233463.html |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=BSP returns the Third Mandate to Form a Government on Monday - Bulgarians are Going to Elections - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency |url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/218515/BSP+returns+the+Third+Mandate+to+Form+a+Government+on+Monday+-+Bulgarians+are+Going+to+Elections |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=www.novinite.com}}

{{Main articles|PP-DB}}

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.

PP is a centrist party,{{bulleted list|{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgarians-vote-third-election-this-year-bid-break-deadlock-2021-11-14/|title=New anti-graft centrist party seen winning Bulgaria's election|first=Tsvetelia|last=Tsolova|newspaper=Reuters|date=November 14, 2021|via=www.reuters.com}}|{{Cite news|url=https://epicenter.bg/article/Sled-kato-vleze-vav-vlastta---quot-Prodalzhavame-promyanata-quot--stava-partiya-na-biznesa/279470/11/0/|title=Once in power, PP became a centrist party that would live on the Internet|date=April 14, 2022|via=epicenter.bg}}|{{Cite news|url=https://www.mediapool.bg/asen-vasilev-prodalzhavame-promyanata-ne-e-dyasna-a-e-tsentristka-partiya-news338775.html|title=Asen Vasilev: "We Continue the Change" isn't a right wing, but a centrist party|date=August 14, 2022|via=mediapool.bg}}|{{Cite news|url=https://www.svobodnaevropa.bg/a/31987433.htmll|title="We Continue the Change" decides on a coalition with "Democratic Bulgaria" by Tuesday|date=August 14, 2022|via=svobodnaevropa.bg}}}} although it has been also described as a centre-left{{Cite web |last=Todorov |first=Svetoslav |date=2022-09-30 |title=Bulgaria Goes to Another Knife-Edge Election on Sunday |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/09/30/bulgaria-goes-to-another-knife-edge-election-on-sunday/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}} or a centre-right party.{{Cite web |title=Bulgaria's We Continue the Change to return mandate to form govt |url=https://seenews.com/news/bulgarias-we-continue-the-change-to-return-mandate-to-form-govt-791025 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=seenews.com |date=8 July 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |first=Cristian | last=Gherasim |title=Bulgaria's new government and the challenges ahead - EU Reporter |url=https://www.eureporter.co/world/bulgaria/2021/12/14/bulgarias-new-government-and-the-challenges-ahead/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.eureporter.co |language=en-GB}} Ideologically, it has been described as a liberal,{{Cite news |last1=Milcheva |first1=Emiliya |last2=Nikolov |first2=Krasen |date=February 21, 2022 |title=Bau von russischem Atomkraftwerk spaltet Bulgarien |newspaper=Euractiv |url=https://www.euractiv.de/section/all/news/atomkraftprojekt-mit-russischen-reaktoren-spaltet-bulgarische-politik/ |via=www.euractiv.de}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-02 |title=Bulgaria's president calls nation's 5th election in 2 years |url=https://apnews.com/article/nato-politics-european-union-bulgaria-aa2405a409a505f15bc87b3f4f1cc29b |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2022-10-03 |title=Former Bulgarian premier faces struggle to build coalition |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/81bf2a8f-4b8c-4014-a9b5-2d5f6af0b539 |access-date=2023-02-13}}{{cite web |last=Nordsieck |first=Wolfram |year=2021 |title=Bulgaria |url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/bulgaria.html |access-date=31 July 2022 |website=Parties and Elections in Europe}} and social-liberal party.{{Cite web |last1=Casal Bértoa |first1=Fernando |last2=Yovcheva |first2=Teodora |date=2022-10-01 |title=What to expect from Bulgaria's latest parliamentary election |url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2022/10/01/what-to-expect-from-bulgarias-latest-parliamentary-election/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=European Politics and Policy}} A pro-European{{cite web |last1=Bedrov |first1=Ivan |last2=Dimitrova |first2=Desislava |date=2022-10-02 |title=For Putin, Against 'Global Liberalism': Why So Many Bulgarian Parties Support Russia |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-elections-pro-russian-parties/32061638.html |access-date=2022-10-15 |publisher=Radio Free Europe}} and anti-corruption party,{{Cite web |title=Принципи и приоритети - Продължаваме Промяната заедно |url=https://promeni.bg/prioriteti/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Продължаваме Промяната |language=en-US}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.24chasa.bg/bulgaria/article/10215957|date=September 25, 2021|title=За седми път по Третия път в търсене на спасител |publisher=24 часа}} On a more political level, they seek to stop corruption and misuse of state funds as well as uphold the rule of law.{{Cite web|title="Продължаваме промяната" постигна коалиционно споразумение с още една партия - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини|url=https://bntnews.bg/news/prodalzhavame-promyanata-postigna-koalicionno-sporazumenie-s-oshte-edna-partiya-1169425news.html|access-date=2021-10-01|website=bntnews.bg|language=bg}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Capital.bg|title=Асен Василев: Нека започнем разговор за това какво е важно и как да бъде изпълнено|url=https://www.capital.bg/politika_i_ikonomika/bulgaria/2021/09/24/4257096_asen_vasilev_neka_zapochnem_razgovor_za_tova_kakvo_e/|access-date=2021-10-01|website=www.capital.bg|language=bg}}

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2021/11/15/en-bulgarie-un-parti-anticorruption-cree-la-surprise-aux-legislatives_6102064_3210.html|title = En Bulgarie, un parti anticorruption crée la surprise aux législatives|newspaper = Le Monde.fr|date = 15 November 2021}}

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),{{Cite web|title=Another Party Joins "We Continue the Change" - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/211510/Another+Party+Joins+%22We+Continue+the+Change%22|access-date=2021-09-30|website=www.novinite.com}} which surrendered their party lists up to the coalition to be used at the election.{{Cite web |title=Лидерът на "Средна европейска класа": Ще се явим на вота с ПП |url=https://dariknews.bg/novini/bylgariia/lideryt-na-sredna-evropejska-klasa-shte-se-iavim-na-vota-s-pp-2320659 |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=dariknews.bg |date=10 August 2022 |language=bg}} 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.

{{main article|PP–DB}}

Ahead of the 2023 election PP merged with another anti-corruption coalition, DB.{{Cite web |last=Зехирова |first=Златина |date=2023-02-10 |title="Продължаваме промяната - Демократична България" e коалицията, която ще участва на изборите |url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/izbori-2023/2023/02/10/4448858_produljavame_promianata_i_demokratichna_bulgariia/ |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=Dnevnik |language=bg}} 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.

{{Notelist}}

The coalition took part in the November 2021 Bulgarian election, coming in first place with 25.67% of the vote and 67 seats.{{Cite web|title=Резултати :: Избори за президент и вицепрезидент и народни представители 14 ноември 2021|url=https://results.cik.bg/pvrns2021/tur1/rezultati/index.html|access-date=2021-11-15|publisher=results.cik.bg}}{{Cite web|title=Избори 2021 - Dnevnik.bg|url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/izbori_2021/|access-date=2021-11-15|website=Dnevnik|language=bg}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Резултати :: Избори за народни представители 02 октомври 2022 |url=https://results.cik.bg/ns2022/rezultati/index.html |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=results.cik.bg}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Bulgarian political parties}}

Category:2021 establishments in Bulgaria

Category:2022 establishments in Bulgaria

Category:Anti-corruption parties

Category:Centrist parties in Bulgaria

Category:Liberal parties in Bulgaria

Category:Political parties established in 2021

Category:Political parties established in 2022

Category:Pro-European political parties in Bulgaria