Български
EnglishIvelin Mihaylov and Pavel Stoimenov hold an open meeting with supporters and citizens in the town of Dryanovo. The event begins immediately after the leaders return from a visit to Cyprus. Mihaylov shares his emotional connection to Bulgaria and the difference he feels every time he returns to his homeland. He recounts a memory from 1998 when, after staying in Libya, he kissed Bulgarian soil with a promise not to leave the country because nowhere else is more beautiful.
The leaders clarify that they are not hereditary politicians but people from business and real life, forced to enter politics because of the destruction they see around them. Mihaylov draws a parallel between well-preserved Revival-era houses and neighboring decaying buildings, which he says symbolizes the dying nation. He emphasizes that they represent a new generation of politicians whose goal is to achieve the change dreamed of since 1989 — equality and opportunity for capable people.
Local Decline and Environmental Problems
During the discussion, specific problems of the Dryanovo municipality are addressed. Citizens and local coordinator Nenko report the destruction of the town’s emblematic Wagon Factory. In its place, investors are building a park with photovoltaic panels. An even more drastic example is the situation in the village of Gesha. There, 20 decares of forest have been cut down near homes and the village reservoir to install solar panels. Mihaylov comments that instead of using house roofs for energy, as in Cyprus, fertile land and nature are being destroyed in Bulgaria.
The issue of water supply from the Yovkovtsi reservoir is also discussed. Despite rainfall, the reservoir level is falling and the water is often muddy. Party leaders express suspicion that this may be done intentionally to create crises that serve certain economic interests. Mihaylov states that authorities create problems out of functioning systems in order to force people to accept unfavorable solutions.
Repression and “Private Armies”
Ivelin Mihaylov describes the state as captured by oligarchic circles that use force against inconvenient individuals. He gives the example of a recent case involving the mayor of the village of Bistritsa. After the exposure of an illegal construction waste landfill, the mayor’s car was set on fire and the door of his house — while he was inside with his family — was also burned. Mihaylov describes this as an attempted murder that will likely never be solved.
The leader of “Velichie” speaks about the existence of “private armies” of those in power. During the meeting, video material is shown depicting masked individuals and enforcement groups acting with impunity. Mihaylov claims that the police often remain inactive or even cooperate with these structures. The names of Boyko Borisov and Delyan Peevski are mentioned as key figures controlling this system. Cases are described of death threats received by phone from foreign numbers directed at members of the party’s team.
Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
Pavel Stoimenov provides a detailed analysis of the condition of agriculture. He states that Bulgarian production has been deliberately destroyed to open the market for imported goods. Stoimenov points to specific legislative obstacles introduced during the GERB government that make irrigation almost impossible. Requirements for drilling permits and expensive laboratory water testing discourage small producers.
Stoimenov explains subsidy schemes in Europe and Turkey. European farmers receive high subsidies per decare and can sell products at dumping prices, which bankrupts Bulgarian producers. He warns that the country has lost its food sovereignty and imports most vegetables and a large share of meat.
Recovery Plan Through Cooperatives
The party proposes a specific solution for reviving agriculture through the creation of cooperatives with 50% state participation. The state, through the Bulgarian Development Bank, should provide financing, seeds, fertilizers, and supplies. These cooperatives would build processing enterprises — dairies, slaughterhouses, canning factories, and cold storage facilities. The goal is to guarantee product purchasing and establish a strong presence of Bulgarian goods in retail chains. Stoimenov gives Romania as an example of successful greenhouse production and livestock development while Bulgaria lags behind.
Energy Policy and the Belene Nuclear Power Plant
High electricity bills are among the main topics. Citizens complain about unaffordable costs reaching 500 leva per month. Mihaylov explains that the “Green Deal” and photovoltaic projects in Bulgaria do not serve the people but function as a scheme for draining European funds through companies close to those in power. He gives an example of a household in Cyprus paying very low electricity costs thanks to rooftop panels.
The “Velichie” party insists on completing the Belene Nuclear Power Plant. According to Mihaylov, this is the only way to ensure cheap electricity and industrialization in Northern Bulgaria. He claims the project was stopped not because of lack of feasibility but because of the unwillingness of the political class, which serves foreign interests and photovoltaic lobbies.
Strategy for Fair Elections
Ivelin Mihaylov presents the strategy for the upcoming elections. The main objective is full coverage of polling stations with party members and observers. He explains that manipulations occur through fictitious voters and the rewriting of protocols, but the presence of honest people in polling stations can prevent this.
The party is organizing mobile rapid-response teams that will travel across regions and document violations. Plans include 24-hour live broadcasting on social media and independent television channels. Mihaylov calls for volunteers willing to go to difficult regions where populations are under pressure and threats.
External Pressure and Corruption Schemes
The leaders share information from their visit to Cyprus regarding financial dependencies of Bulgarian politicians. According to Mihaylov, Cyprus had long served as an offshore zone where the Bulgarian political elite hid stolen funds. After changes in international legislation and interventions by foreign services, these assets were blocked or confiscated. This makes Bulgarian politicians dependent and easily controlled by external forces because they face the risk of prosecution and loss of wealth.
Questions from Citizens
During the discussion, attendees raise questions on pressing topics:
- Abandoned Buildings: A citizen asks about the possibility of returning large abandoned buildings, allegedly taken by criminal groups, to the state and converting them into hospitals or community centers. Mihaylov supports the idea and states there should be accountability and confiscation of illegally acquired property.
- Bureaucracy: A mother describes difficulties in legalizing her child’s diploma after returning from England. The process is expensive and slow. The leaders promise digitalization and removal of unnecessary administrative burdens.
- Delayed Salaries: The issue of unpaid wages in both the public and private sectors is raised. Mihaylov claims the state deliberately delays payments to create tension, while private companies are pressured by extortion and account seizures that block their operations.
- Local Isolation: A municipal councilor from Dryanovo criticizes the lack of party structures in the town and notes that people do not know whom to contact. He provides documents about forest abuses in the village of Gesha. Mihaylov explains that pressure on local leaders is severe and structures are often dismantled, but he commits to better organization.
Call for Boycott and Unity
At the end of the meeting, a call is made for economic resistance. Pavel Stoimenov and Ivelin Mihaylov urge people to boycott large foreign retail chains and to shop directly from neighbors and small local producers so that money remains in the Bulgarian economy. The meeting concludes with an optimistic call for unity around Bulgarian roots and active efforts to change the system.
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