The former leader and co-chair of "We Continue the Change" Kiril Petkov finds many benefits in the split with "Democratic Bulgaria", it is clear from his post on "Facebook".
The two parliamentary groups split in the new National Assembly, which caused controversy among right-wing voters.
Here is the point of view of former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov:
"Honestly, I understand the emotions that flared up around the split of the two parliamentary groups. The idea of division always carries a risk of weakening and this is something that cannot be ignored. Therefore, all shared fears are completely understandable, especially considering that historical facts often show similar processes.
However, let us leave aside the fears and historical disappointments for a moment and think together whether, despite the risks, there may also be benefits. Yes, it is clear that there are some nominal advantages in parliament - more time for speeches, more participation in committees, potentially more media presence. But these benefits alone cannot justify such a decision. Then where is the point?
Let us first define the task, and then try to solve it. Who are we and who are the people we are trying to attract? In my opinion, definitions such as “urban intelligentsia”, “urban right” or “people from the yellow cobblestones” are too restrictive (the latter even sounds offensive in its slang version and is used mainly by our political opponents). The fact is that this group represents very important voters of ours and is the core of our support, but it does not encompass all free Bulgarians who want change. Bulgaria will move forward when the majority of free people - those who recognize the country's European path and respect the rule of law - are motivated to vote and have a real chance to form a government.
This means reaching out to all those who do not vote for our coalition today, but believe in Bulgaria's European path and the rule of law. Are there such people? I am convinced that there are, and in the last elections some of them were attracted by Radev. Here it is important to ask ourselves why. Our long-term task is to reach out to these people and give them a real political alternative.
With such a broad definition, free Bulgarians must have a choice - between more conservative and more liberal ideas, between more right-wing and more centrist policies, between social focus and fiscal conservatism, as well as between different policies to support young families, education, healthcare and the business environment.
Freedom means choice. But it also means belief that this choice can become a reality when the representation of these people becomes a majority.
Here is the real question: what is the model in which the pro-European forces of free people are not a minority, but a majority? In this context, the existing coalition showed its limitations in the last elections - around 12-14%. With a similar result, it will remain either in opposition or as a small partner in a larger coalition in future elections. I do not think that any of these scenarios satisfy its voters.
This means that looking for a different model is not necessarily a mistake. If good coordination is maintained between “We Continue the Change” and “Democratic Bulgaria”, without mutual attacks on their representatives, and if at the same time a greater choice is given to free Bulgarians, there is a real chance of expanding support. If new charismatic individuals join each of the formations and begin to attract wider groups of people, then we can get closer to the goal – a pro-European majority that believes in the rule of law.
Yes, this is a risk. Yes, historically it has often been a mistake. But the reason is that divisions have usually been driven by the question “who will take a larger share of the urban right”, and not “how to attract more free Bulgarians together”.
It is time to think differently – not who is better, smarter or more successful, but how each formation can expand the circle of people it attracts. This will not happen with internal conflicts or simply with division. It will happen with clearly formulated policies, a variety of ideas, the search for new supporters, the attraction of charismatic personalities and, at the same time, coordination on key issues, such as the nomination of a common candidate for president.
Let us not forget that our strongest performance in the last decade was when “Continuing the Change” received over 670,000 votes, and “Democratic Bulgaria&rdash; over 160,000. Together, this led to a government supported by over 830,000 voters.
Let us try to think more positively. Let us put our fears aside for a moment and allow ourselves to imagine a Bulgaria that is truly a European country, in which diversity is strength, and the rule of law and the European path are unwavering principles.