For the upcoming presidential elections, a unified candidacy must be put forward, which should be supported not only by political forces, but also by civil organizations, intellectuals and the active part of society. This was stated by the co-chairman of "Yes, Bulgaria" and a member of parliament from "Democratic Bulgaria" Bozhidar Bozhanov in the program "Sunday 150" on the Bulgarian National Radio.
“We have the ambition to surpass what the parties achieve in parliamentary elections. We want a candidate with a clear pro-Western profile, who can be a real unifier of the nation“, said Bozhanov.
He emphasized that in "Democratic Bulgaria" there is a decision to hold early elections. “These are the first presidential elections after the unification with “We Continue the Change“. The situation is a precedent. The first step is a common position with the DSB partners. From there, broad support will be sought. Whether the PP will be part of the right-wing unity depends on them“, he also said.
Regarding President Radev's comments on prices, Bozanov stressed that it is not clear what data they are based on. “Radev is probably referring to the partial and incorrectly presented information from an interview with Rumen Spetsov. Yes, there is an increase in prices, but the question is what it is and whether it is related to the euro. In order to avoid speculation, we proposed a bill - all large food chains to publish daily prices from the small consumer basket and submit them to the Ministry of Economy. This will allow traceability, strengthen competition and prevent cartels.“
According to Bozanov, Peevski's idea of state-owned stores is economically dangerous. “This is a severe intervention in the market. If the prices in them are lower, someone has to subsidize them - most likely the taxpayer. This is inefficient, non-market and in the long run - harmful.“
The co-chair of “Yes, Bulgaria” pointed out that Peevski's influence is growing not through electoral support, but through the abuse of institutions such as the prosecutor's office, the Criminal Procedure Code and the National Revenue Agency. “He is trying to control local government by putting pressure on mayors and voters - projects and infrastructure are promised only in exchange for support. This is illegal and unacceptable.“
In conclusion, Bozanov stressed that the election of a new Anti-Corruption Commission must take place according to rules that meet the requirements of the European Commission. “The real question is - will we elect a professional to receive the second payment under the Recovery Plan, or will Borisov and Peevski appoint Anton Slavchev?“, he concluded.