Български
EnglishOn February 28, 2026, an open meeting was held in the town of Klisura with representatives of the “Velichie” party, Maria Ilieva and Kuman Topchiyski, and local citizens. The discussion focused on the corrupt model of governance, the fight against election manipulation, and the key role of a united civil society in solving pressing national and local problems.
1. The Political Crisis, Corruption, and Election Manipulations
The current political crisis and long-standing governance are described as an extremely declining period in Bulgaria’s history, in which power is exercised by successors of the former State Security, using kompromat and pressure against citizens and businesses. This model of governance has been reinforced through pre-accession and accession programs related to joining the European Union, which poured enormous ready-made funds into the economy. According to the speakers, those in power benefited personally from these funds — purchasing expensive cars, properties, and building hotels — turning corruption into a kind of “octopus” that has infected the entire society.
To maintain access to these resources, the ruling groups allegedly destroy the competitive environment and build cartels in the economy. Markets such as food retail chains, mobile operators, and energy companies are said to be controlled by a few major players that artificially maintain high prices, while purchase prices for local production (such as sunflower) collapse. Honest businesses that follow the rules and pay social contributions are deliberately suppressed and forced to close or emigrate, while favored companies drain loans, avoid taxes, and liquidate firms after transferring assets. This corrupt environment is protected through the appointment of convenient individuals in regulatory bodies with long mandates, as well as through increased salaries in the Ministry of Interior, the judiciary, and the prosecution, ensuring the absence of justice and preventing citizens from seeking redress.
To remain in power, the status quo allegedly relies on unprecedented election manipulation. Elections are described as being controlled through large-scale vote-buying, the use of “dead souls,” and registering citizens abroad as having voted. Examples are given of small villages near the Macedonian border where, with populations of 50 or 100 people, results of 5,000 to 10,000 votes for a particular party are reported, and ballots with serial numbers from completely different regions of the country, such as Silistra, are allegedly found in election bags. In small settlements, residents are said to be kept under control and fear by local authorities through the suspension of firewood supplies, electricity, or social benefits, as well as threats of dismissal from public sector jobs. All of this is described as happening under the protection of institutions, including the Ministry of Interior and municipalities, which are supposed to guarantee the fairness of the vote.
Other systemic parties in parliament are described as merely simulating opposition while actually playing pre-assigned roles in a shared scenario. It is claimed that the “Vazrazhdane” party makes agreements with GERB, allegedly conceding local power in Varna in exchange for a high national election result, and serves to pass convenient decisions such as maintaining the security protection of Boyko Borisov and Delyan Peevski. BSP and ITN are also described as participating in such arrangements, regularly requesting 15-minute breaks to change their votes on command from those in power, as allegedly happened during the election of the ombudsman when BSP votes were used to support the GERB candidate.
2. The Actions and Resistance of the “Velichie” Party
Against this political cartel, the “Velichie” party positions itself as the only real and independent opposition in parliament. Although its parliamentary group is the smallest and isolated, it is described as having withstood massive pressure, smear campaigns, and proposals for backstage deals. Numerous attempts were allegedly made to split the group by both official and unofficial actors, including the parties MECh and “Vazrazhdane,” yet the representatives of “Velichie” remained united and carried out a significant amount of work. According to the speakers, crude falsehoods and financial seizures are imposed daily against key figures and supporters such as Ivelin Mihaylov and Pavel Stoimenov, aiming to diminish the party’s importance and discourage voters.
As one of their most significant achievements, the representatives highlight their motion of no confidence. Unlike motions by other parties, which are described as containing only a few pages of general statements, theirs consists of 1,300 pages detailing reports of illegal landfills and environmental violations. These materials are said to be fully substantiated legally and factually and were even accompanied by video materials shown in the plenary hall — something described as unprecedented. Despite attempts by other MPs to mock them and despite having only 10 minutes to speak, they defended their position and the work of hundreds of volunteers nationwide.
The party also actively fights media isolation. Speakers emphasize that “Velichie” representatives are allegedly deliberately not invited to major national television channels (BNT, bTV, Nova TV) to hide the real picture from citizens. When they are invited, hosts allegedly begin with attacks and provocative questions from the first sentence to provoke confrontation and prevent the party from presenting its program. Despite this, “Velichie” continues its work in parliamentary committees, submitting reports on the education system, supporting the creation of a pedophilia registry, and strongly opposing what they describe as the daily reckless draining of hundreds of millions of leva from the state budget and the health insurance fund.
3. The Role of an Active Civil Society
A central message of the meeting is that change in the country and the salvation of Bulgaria depend entirely on the creation of an active and fearless civil society. The MPs emphasize that no politician or institution will solve people’s problems out of goodwill unless citizens themselves unite, take a firm stand, and demand strict respect for their rights. Citizens are the true owners of the state, and they are the ones who grant power to their elected representatives and must control them.
As clear evidence of the power of civic pressure, an example is given from the Municipal Council in Karlovo. In the past, municipal rules required councilors to vote on whether a citizen could speak on a topic, often refusing permission. After intervention by local activists and complaints to the regional governor, the regulation was changed, and now every resident can freely submit a request and speak without obstruction.
Another successful example comes from the municipality of Kaloyanovo, where the presence of more than 100 dissatisfied citizens in the municipal council chamber prevented the concession of a local pasture. Local problems can be solved only if the mayor has a strong society behind them; if citizens remain passive and leave the mayor alone, the municipality will continue refusing funding for important causes.
The MPs call on citizens to stop fearing pressure from those in power and to take active participation in the electoral process. It is emphasized that the key battle is protecting the integrity of the vote, which can happen only if citizens become full members of the sectional election commissions. Unlike observers and representatives, who cannot sign protocols or express dissenting opinions, commission members have real authority to stop manipulations on the spot. A process of social awakening is described — meeting halls are full, people are registering en masse as volunteers, and they demonstrate readiness to stand against the status quo, which according to the speakers is a clear sign that hope is returning to Bulgaria.
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