Български
EnglishWe present some of the topics discussed at the meeting of Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов) and Pavel Stoimenov (Павел Стоименов) on 22 December 2025 with representatives of civil society from the city of Burgas (Бургас).
1. Total Collapse of Statehood and Institutional Breakdown
One of the central theses of Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов) is that the state currently does not function as a real structure, but exists only as a “simulacrum” – a concept borrowed from Jean Baudrillard (Жан Бодриар), describing a situation in which real substance is missing behind the symbols of power. Institutions have preserved their names and buildings, but have abdicated their core responsibilities to care for society. Mihaylov gives a concrete example with water supply, stating that the water flowing from taps is of sludge- and rust-like quality because it passes through old, poorly maintained cisterns, while regulatory bodies remain indifferent. The Food Agency (Агенция по храните) is also cited as a non-functioning institution that certifies harmful products filled with palm oil instead of safeguarding public health. According to the analysis, state employees – from incompetent doctors to inspectors – are appointed solely for the absorption of funds rather than to perform real work, leading to the complete breakdown of the systems of education, healthcare, and security.
2. Strategy to Counter Vote Buying
The party Velichie (партия „Величие“) presents a detailed and uncompromising plan to counter electoral manipulation, arguing that the police not only fail to prevent vote buying but actively assist vote buyers. The strategy includes the creation of mobile civic units (мобилни граждански отряди) in every municipality, equipped with vehicles and drones to monitor gatherings of people and suspicious activity on election day. A key element is the deployment of so-called “Trojan horses” (троянски коне) – individuals who outwardly agree to sell their vote but are equipped with hidden cameras and microphones to record the vote dealers (buyers). The goal is for the collected evidence and the names of offenders to be widely disseminated on social media and specialized websites, exposing criminal activity and creating public pressure that institutions cannot ignore. Mihaylov believes that only through civic intelligence gathering and public exposure can the feudal dependence of voters be dismantled.
3. Criticism of the “Pseudo-Opposition” (Vazrazhdane and MECH – „Възраждане“ и МЕЧ)
The leaders of Velichie (партия „Величие“) direct sharp criticism at the parliamentary parties Vazrazhdane (партия „Възраждане“) and MECH (МЕЧ), accusing them of coordination with the ruling parties GERB (ГЕРБ) and DPS (ДПС). Mihaylov describes the behavior of these formations in parliament as theatrical, hooligan-like, and even “fascist,” referring to aggression and insults toward opponents, including women. According to him, the purpose of these scandals is to alienate ordinary people from politics and to create a smokescreen that conceals the real corruption schemes of those in power. Velichie claims that these parties sabotage genuine anti-corruption actions by refusing to sign no-confidence motions or by creating artificial divisions to prevent the accumulation of enough votes to block the government. They are described as “situational partners” of the mafia, whose role is to channel public discontent in a direction that is safe for the status quo.
4. Destruction of Bulgarian Agriculture and Business
Pavel Stoimenov (Павел Стоименов), as an expert in the sector, outlines a grim picture of Bulgarian agriculture, which he describes as being subjected to systematic destruction. He claims that the state deliberately eradicates livestock farming under the pretext of combating diseases, citing examples such as the killing of thousands of healthy sheep in the Karlovo region (Карловско) and other areas. At the same time, the domestic market is flooded with imported products of questionable quality and GMO products from countries such as Ukraine (Украйна) and South America (Южна Америка), making Bulgarian production uncompetitive. Business is subjected to repression – any entrepreneur who reaches a turnover exceeding one million leva automatically enters the “radar” of the mafia and is subjected to inspections and pressure to be subordinated or bankrupted. Stoimenov emphasizes that Bulgaria, which once fed half of Europe, is now unable to export its own production, while farmers lose motivation to work because the state destroys everything they create through risk and labor.
5. Corruption in Infrastructure and Energy
The discussion reveals large-scale corruption schemes in infrastructure projects, where according to Stoimenov (Стоименов) theft reaches up to 80% of the project value. A concrete example is given of inflated material prices: water pipes that actually cost 34 leva per linear meter are invoiced to the state at 475 leva. This leads not only to financial losses for the budget but also to extremely poor construction quality – asphalt is substandard and repairs deteriorate rapidly. The draining of funds through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (План за възстановяване и устойчивост) is also mentioned, with claims that political parties protect the corrupt Anti-Corruption Commission (Комисия за противодействие на корупцията – КПК) solely to absorb billions of euros from Europe, which are then distributed among circles of affiliated companies. Stoimenov notes that profits are not reinvested in the economy but are transferred to offshore zones such as Dubai (Дубай).
6. Police Protection and Repression
The Ministry of Interior (Министерство на вътрешните работи – МВР) and the security services are described not as guardians of public order but as private security for the ruling mafia. Mihaylov (Михайлов) states that police officers routinely protect drug dealers and vote buyers instead of arresting them, because they themselves are part of corruption schemes. Accounts are given of brutal repression against party supporters and their families, including the arrest of relatives for purposes of political blackmail and intimidation. In small settlements, fear and feudal dependence prevail – people are afraid to express opinions or even like a Facebook post, fearing dismissal or social isolation imposed by local power brokers who control everything. The leaders of Velichie (партия „Величие“) are categorical that services such as the State Agency for National Security (Държавна агенция „Национална сигурност“ – ДАНС) and the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (Главна дирекция „Борба с организираната престъпност“ – ГДБОП) have become tools for retaliation against inconvenient citizens and cannot be relied upon for protection.
7. Role of Civil Society and Self-Organization
According to the speakers, the only way out of the crisis is the creation of an active and uncompromising civil society (гражданско общество) that exercises daily oversight over those in power. Mihaylov (Михайлов) urges people not to wait for a savior but to assume personal responsibility – from sharing information on social media to physically appearing in front of the homes of corrupt politicians and officials to demand accountability. The importance of participation in Precinct Electoral Commissions (Секционни избирателни комисии – СИК) is emphasized as the only guarantee of honest vote counting. The idea is to build a parallel system of security and mutual aid in which citizens protect one another, report abuses, and respond to injustices, since state institutions have abdicated their role. An example of such self-organization is the creation of Telegram (Telegram) and Viber (Viber) groups for rapid dissemination of information, bypassing media censorship.
8. Political Goals of the Velichie Party (партия „Величие“)
The party’s main strategic goal for the upcoming elections is to secure between 30 and 50 parliamentary seats. Mihaylov (Михайлов) explains that a small parliamentary group of 10–13 members is ineffective, as it lacks sufficient speaking time and procedural tools to block harmful decisions. With a group of around 50 deputies, Velichie (партия „Величие“) would be able to regularly initiate no-confidence votes, demand hearings, and exert serious pressure on the ruling coalition (“the assembly” – „сглобката“). They state that they will not enter coalitions with establishment parties that created and maintain the corrupt model. The party positions itself as the only force focused on the country’s internal problems, rather than on geopolitical disputes over Russia (Русия) or America (Америка), which are used solely to divide society.
9. Media Manipulation and Censorship
A strongly emphasized theme is the complete information blackout and manipulation imposed by major media outlets. It is claimed that television channels and newspapers are bought and serve those in power, concealing the real scale of crime and the problems facing the country. Mihaylov (Михайлов) gives the example of a journalist claiming that crime has decreased, while in reality crimes are simply not recorded in statistics. Members of the European Parliament (Европейски парламент) and international partners also do not receive accurate information about the situation in Bulgaria (България) because communication channels are blocked or controlled by the status quo. To break this blockade, Velichie (партия „Величие“) has developed its own mobile application, Naroden (приложение „Народен“), which aggregates news from independent sources and allows people to access objective information, bypassing the filter of state-aligned media.
10. Spiritual Revival and Symbolism
The discussion goes beyond purely political themes and addresses the need for spiritual change and a transformation of the Bulgarian mindset. The metaphor of the Phoenix (Феникс) is used – a symbol of rebirth from the ashes, burning away fears and weaknesses to give rise to something new and strong. Mihaylov (Михайлов) speaks about the need to overcome a victim mentality and for people to believe in their own strength. As a material expression of this constructive spirit, the construction of a church in the village of Neofit Rilski (с. Неофит Рилски), referred to as “the church of the miracle” („църквата на чудото“), is highlighted. Built with voluntary labor and donations in difficult times, it symbolizes the community’s ability to build and unite around higher goals despite the destruction of statehood. This act of construction is presented as a counterpoint to destructive processes in society and as proof that unity is possible.
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