“It is important not to be fooled by the supposedly new, who has governed twice as long as us, Rumen Radev. Because what he offers as an economic program is worse than what GERB offered. And this was seen in the debate “Off the air“. For the first time, Radev's team told each other what they intend to do, which is not good at all for Bulgarian families, nor is it good for Bulgarian industry“. This was said by Assen Vassilev in front of the packed hall in Sliven, where he met with citizens yesterday along with representatives of the PP-DB list for Sliven led by Tatyana Sultanova.
Assen Vassilev asked the crowd: “How many of you have heard that Rumen Radev is new and we should give him a chance?“ and “How many of you have heard that we from the PP have governed for the last 5 years?“ The hall was filled with raised hands to both questions. “This is perhaps the most interesting lie in the campaign. The PP had 2 governments that governed for a total of 540 days. In the last 5 years, Radev had 8 governments that governed for 920 days. So my question is: is Radev that new, or not that new?“, asked the leader of “Continue the Change“.
According to the former finance minister, people should not be fooled by the supposedly new Radev. “Because what he is proposing as an economic program is worse than what GERB was proposing. And that is why they were running away from the debate, because it was evident at the debate. For the first time, they actually said what they intend to do. And it is not good at all for Bulgarian families, nor is it good for Bulgarian industry“, explained Asen Vassilev.
“GERB are clear – in the coming economic crisis due to the war in Iran, they are again offering their favorite recipe – lean pizza. "Understand that you are on a lean pizza, and the BDB will load it with 4 billion," explained Asen Vassilev. He said that Prodanov, who was sent by Radev to the debate on "Off Air", proposed something more shocking - lean pizza, but not for everyone - aid for some, targeted only for the poorest. We asked who the poorest were. He said that fuel subsidies should be given to those who do not have cars, because people with cars are rich. Then he said, but they and some who have cars may not be rich. We will give them too, but how they will divide them is not clear. And this, to me, is the recipe for the fastest impoverishment that can happen in the country - faster than during the GERB era“, summarized Asen Vassilev.
The PP leader drew a parallel with Hungary, where people impoverished by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's policies ousted him from power with a record voter turnout. “If 80% of Bulgarians come out to vote in our country on Sunday, Borisov and Peevski are finished. If they fall below 80 MPs, their truncheon, the Prosecutor General, will be replaced and they are finished“, said Asen Vassilev. And he turned the topic to the most important issue – the country's economy and the incomes of Bulgarians.
The former Finance Minister recalled that in 2022, when prices went up due to the war in Ukraine, the PP cabinet raised pensions twice during the year – in July and in October, to outpace the growth of inflation. Back then, there was no pensioner below the poverty line. In 2025, the proposed budget by GERB, DPS, ITN and with the BSP a social minister again brought 1 million people below the poverty line.
„We put a ceiling on the price of electricity for all businesses - from the hair salon, the pizzeria, to the largest factories, so that money would remain in the businesses, so that they could raise wages. Tax breaks for families were raised from 20 leva to 600 leva for one day. Kindergartens became free. Parents of children in grades 2, 3 and 4 received one-time benefits at the beginning of the school year. City transport for children up to 14 years old became free. All these are benefits and money that comes back from your taxes back into your pocket“, summarized Asen Vassilev.
He recalled that during the “Petkov“ and “Denkov“ cabinets, the opponents from GERB and DPS explained that this was bad policy. “Do you know why? Because when this money comes back to you as tax benefits, as higher pensions, as higher salaries, no one can steal it from you. And if this money goes to the Bulgarian Energy Holding, to the Bulgarian Development Bank, for example - they have money to spend“, said Asen Vassilev.
The PP leader explained that this is where the whole clash comes from. "That's why there were protests, that's why all the people took to the streets, because we're tired of you and us being picked at and told 'there's no money' and we have to pinch ourselves, and in the crisis give to some who are the worst off, while everyone else is doing very well or has flourished, has made a fortune and nothing will go to them," he recalled.
Asen Vassilev also noted that the PP-DB has repeatedly proposed that the NHIF send an SMS to every Bulgarian when payment is being prepared for their treatment, examination or medicines and that the person have options to answer - whether they really had the tests done, or the Health Insurance Fund will pay, but the hospital has already made them pay for the same.
The PP leader also pointed out that the party proposes that maternity benefits be received in full, even when the mother returns to work before the second year. “For students, for pensioners, for schoolchildren, the state pays health insurance. It is normal for a woman, when she is on maternity leave, for the state to take them over again“, the former finance minister also said.
“We will insist on having health paths without co-payments, and that private hospitals also hold public auctions for medicines that are paid for by the NHIF. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health came out and announced a 100-fold difference in the price of one medicine for different medical institutions. So one hospital buys medicine for 1 lev, the other - the same medicine for 100 lev. Just stopping this is enough to raise the salaries of young doctors and nurses“, said Asen Vassilev.
He also recalled the PP-DB's request to introduce a complete ban on advertising gambling games in populated areas. “All cities and villages look like Las Vegas. Every second signboard, every second poster is an advertisement for gambling. We have proposed to ban gambling advertising in cities and villages. According to official data from the National Revenue Agency, 1 billion euros from the pockets of Bulgarian families went as profit to gambling companies last year. This must stop and these advertisements must be banned“, said the leader of “Promyanata“.
The leader of “Prodluzhavame Promyanata“ Asen Vassilev called on Bulgarians from Sliven to go out and vote on April 19 – with the idea of which party offers what benefits for Bulgarian families and for the domestic industry. “We have had a unique chance since 2009 – GERB and MRF have a total of less than 80 deputies. But for this purpose you simply have to go out and vote.“
Tatyana Sultanova summarized that there is no way to solve local problems without the PP having strong national support.