Български
EnglishOgnian Draganov speaks with Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов) about the political balance sheet of the past year 2025, the participation of the “Velichie” party (партия „Величие“) in the 51st National Assembly (51-ото Народно събрание), and the pressure exerted on its members.
Here is the edited transcript of the conversation, structured by topics:
Entering parliament and a review of the year
Ognian Draganov (Огнян Драганов): So, I want to introduce the main culprit behind our having 10 MPs in parliament and ask what his opinion is about the year that has passed and how “Velichie” („Величие“) made its way into the 51st National Assembly (51-ото Народно събрание). Hello!
Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов): I just want to correct you – the main reason we entered the National Assembly (Народното събрание) is truly the people who worked with heart and soul, and all those who believed in the idea that there can be some justice in Bulgaria (България). So I thank them. And after we entered the National Assembly, we managed to accomplish many things.
Today I spoke with a psychologist friend. She told me about an analysis done on me by two psychologists. I remember that there was a moment of hesitation after we found out that we were entering. Pavel Stoimenov (Павел Стоименов) and I were in his car, driven by his son-in-law Alexander (Александър). We made a video in which we said that arrests would follow. We said that a pile of slander and mud would be poured over us, that there would be pressure and repression – economic repression. That there would be people who had been our partners but would turn against us and claim they had been harmed, because they would be offered various incentives. As if they would be told: “We’ll give you what’s yours and you’ll win – just betray the others.”
Everything we said happened. And despite everything, we managed to keep the promises we made to the people. We can be proud of 2025, because despite everything that was thrown at us, we not only held together as a group and as people who did not betray the nation, but we also counterattacked. We did an enormous amount of work, unlike others who retreat into passive defense or become embittered. On the contrary, we were constructive, we worked with the other opposition, even though it attacked us as well.
We set an example of how the political system in Bulgaria (България) should work in a positive direction – to expose the schemes of the mafia and to be uncompromising toward them. I want to remind people of just one thing: three times we visited the home of Boyko Borisov (Бойко Борисов). No other party does that, because they are all together.
Election preparation and vote buying
Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов): After our people were arrested, you saw that we did not retreat but attacked even harder. This fuels us even more to finally achieve justice in poor Mother Bulgaria (България). We hope that in 2026, at the next elections, the people will appreciate the work of the “Velichie” party (партия „Величие“). We showed the real state of affairs in parliament – that all parties play together and that there is no opposition.
People must turn out en masse to vote. We must exercise control, have people at the polling stations, pursue violations. This is extremely important – to have people who will safeguard the elections. From now on, I call on people to sign up, to contact us, for everyone to provide their details so that we can protect the votes.
Now I hear that the Bulgarian Socialist Party (БСП) and There Is Such a People (ИТН) are buying votes. I want to remind Bulgarian voters that in 2021 elections were heavily bought by VMRO (ВМРО) as well. Here, in Varna Region (област Варна), Vetreno Municipality (община Ветрино) and Suvorovo Municipality (община Суворово), there is a municipal councilor – Milen Georgiev (Милен Георгиев), who at that time was from Democratic Bulgaria (Демократична България), and later I think from There Is Such a People (ИТН), but he went around handing out money for VMRO (ВМРО) in Suvorovo (Суворово).
I just want to say that now There Is Such a People (ИТН) and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (БСП) will try to distribute the money they took from those in power and from us, as will GERB (ГЕРБ) and DPS (ДПС). But those 100 or 200 euros they give you are money you pay back twice over just through your food bills. They take it from you for half a month, and then squeeze you even more for a whole year. You do not need these people. There must be severe punishment for people who commit such crimes. Because of this genocide, elderly people and children die, and the entire statehood is being destroyed.
In the current parliament, everyone is against the “Velichie” party (партия „Величие“). There is no way to expect that at the next elections, members of these parties in the commissions will watch over the votes for “Velichie.” That is why we must secure our own people.
Repression in detention and the state apparatus
Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов): Today I was told that on the 27th they went to visit one of our supporters who is among those arrested. He has lost a frightening amount of weight. They deliberately brought him three bags of food, vacuum-sealed, but only one was allowed in. They said: “On our shift, this won’t happen.” Note that – food! They let him go last to the prison shop so that by the time he got there everything would be sold out and there would be nothing left for him to eat. His health is deteriorating. They subject people to all kinds of harassment.
I do not believe that someone from above told them, “You must harass them.” I think these employees put themselves in that position. Anton Slavchev (Антон Славчев), by the way, once again I have an appeal – where does this man live, what is his route? I want to see him, to go and talk to him. This man acts like a tough guy; I see him as a thug. All these state officials from the services who act as clubs against businesses, against the “Historical Park” (Исторически парк) and locally – I get the feeling they take pleasure in crushing people. These people are the same as their masters.
For this reason, we will put more and more people on the “Wall of Shame” (“Стената на срама”), and we will also create a “Wall of Good” (“Стена на доброто”) for those who contribute positively. They must know that outside there is an organization that will not allow the law to be trampled. Once the law is trampled, it is as if there is no law at all.
To change governance, at the next elections people must come out and choose the right people. They took this power through elections, albeit manipulated ones. We must take it from them through elections as well.
Interaction with other parties and the media environment
Ognian Draganov (Огнян Драганов): Overall, the “Velichie” party (партия „Величие“) performed well in 2025 as the smallest party. I think you are satisfied with the party’s participation in political life. There were many attacks, mostly from the so-called “opposition” parties.
Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов): I am indeed satisfied, because we did the maximum of what we are capable of. We suffered many losses – financial, human, and reputational. And despite everything, not once did we bend.
First, we helped the MECH party (партия МЕЧ) when their parliamentary group was dissolved – we stood by them. Subsequently, we also helped the Varna mayor Blagoy Kotsev (Благо Коцев) when he was arrested. We participated in all the protests for his release, whereas now we do not see reciprocal support from PP–DB (ПП-ДБ) to help achieve justice for our wrongly detained supporters.
I was even told something that surprised me – that somehow PP–DB (ПП-ДБ) claimed in Pazardzhik (Пазарджик) that it was as if they had caught the vote buyers. An appeal to them: be objective! In Pazardzhik, the main contribution was ours. PP–DB also joined in and helped, but the credit was ours. However, on the national television channels it is presented as if PP–DB did it.
Nothing is said about the “Velichie” party (партия „Величие“). I just remembered the dismissal of Tsantsarova (Цънцарова) from bTV (bTV). PP–DB rushed to defend her, but let us see because of whom she was dismissed and who has the power to dismiss this woman. This woman can only be dismissed by Borisov (Борисов) and Peevski (Пеевски). She was dismissed because of her interview with MECH (МЕЧ). It is as if they are trying to launder her image as some honest journalist fighting for justice, while she had extremely poor participation, even with us. I remember the protest of the investors in the “Historical Park” (Исторически парк). When we saw her in front of the National Palace of Culture (НДК), she was drinking coffee with her colleagues. People surrounded her and she ran away. The investors’ protest was much larger than the protest in her defense, but it was not broadcast anywhere.
Final words
Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов): The only thing I want to say is: do not be misled by pseudo-journalists who write that these people are finished and that Americans or someone else will come and remove them. Only we can punish these people; otherwise they will remain forever. Everyone who governs Bulgaria (България) is in contact with external forces, and they will not come to dismantle anything. That is why after the New Year we must step on the gas and remove them in these elections.
Do not follow national media so closely, nor those connected to Capital ( „Капитал“ ) and other news sites. Seek out the free voice, the profiles of people who broadcast objective content. If you see even once that a channel broadcasts falsehoods and fabricated material – stop watching it. Also, do not believe the sociological surveys that are widely released. They are paid for. Believe only in the work we can do together.
Ognian Draganov (Огнян Драганов): Well, stay healthy! I wish you health as well. Continue your creativity, the very beautiful songs. That is what Bulgaria (България) lacks. There are other channels too – Stefan makes nice songs; he made one about the “Historical Park” (Исторически парк). Hopefully we will turn things around in Bulgaria and it will take the right path. Greetings at home!
Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов): Thank you! I am here with one of my sons. He is currently assembling “Yamato” (“Ямато”). Before that he assembled “Bismarck” (“Бисмарк”), and now “Yamato” (“Ямато”) and “Musashi” (“Мусаши”) – the largest battleships during World War II (Втората световна война). He does them so well that I truly feel old.
Ognian Draganov (Огнян Драганов): Bravo! May he be healthy. Let there be more children like that – creating and learning history so that they can work in the present and build the future. Children must learn to dream, and we must leave them a better Bulgaria (България). Thank you for joining us! Bye and happy New Year!
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