We Continue the Change

We Continue the Change is a centrist to centre-right political party in Bulgaria, founded in September 2021 by former caretaker ministers Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev. The party emerged from a wave of Anti-corruption protests and quickly positioned itself as a pro-reform, pro-European force advocating for economic liberalization and judicial overhaul. It achieved a rapid electoral breakthrough, leading to the formation of a coalition government in late 2021, and has since been a pivotal actor in the country's fragmented political landscape.

History and formation

The party was officially established on 17 September 2021 by Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev, both of whom had served as ministers in the 2021 Bulgarian caretaker government under Stefan Yanev. Its formation was a direct response to the political crisis and widespread public discontent following the April 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election and the subsequent failed governments of Boyko Borisov's GERB and Slavi Trifonov's There Is Such a People. Capitalizing on momentum from the 2020–2021 Bulgarian protests, the new movement presented itself as a clean alternative to the established political elites. It swiftly entered an alliance with another new anti-corruption party, Democratic Bulgaria, and contested the November 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election, finishing a strong second behind GERB.

Ideology and political positions

Ideologically, We Continue the Change blends economic liberal policies with a strong Anti-corruption and Good governance agenda, positioning itself within the political centre. Its core platform emphasizes accelerating Bulgaria's integration into the Eurozone and the Schengen Area, enhancing the Rule of law, and implementing deep reforms in the judiciary and state administration. The party is staunchly pro-European and supports NATO solidarity, particularly in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While advocating for a competitive market economy, it also promotes investments in digitalization, Green energy, and Innovation, aiming to modernize the Bulgarian economy.

Electoral performance

The party made an immediate impact in its first election, the November 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election, winning 25.7% of the vote and 67 seats in the National Assembly. Following a complex period of negotiations, it formed a governing coalition known as the Petkov Government with BSP, There Is Such a People, and Democratic Bulgaria. This government collapsed after a no-confidence vote in June 2022, leading to a series of snap elections. In the April 2023 Bulgarian parliamentary election, the party ran in a pre-election coalition called PP–DB (with Democratic Bulgaria), securing 64 seats. It repeated this coalition formula for the 2024 European Parliament election, winning 5 of Bulgaria's 17 seats and subsequently joining the European People's Party (EPP) group.

Leadership and structure

The party is co-chaired by its founders, Kiril Petkov, who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and Asen Vasilev, who held the Finance Ministry portfolio. Other prominent figures include Atanas Atanasov, a co-leader of the PP–DB coalition, and Daniel Lorer, who has served as Minister of Economy. The party's structure is relatively centralized around its parliamentary group and its core leadership, with Petkov and Vasilev being the primary public faces. Its membership base grew rapidly from its inception, drawing support from urban professionals, young voters, and reform-oriented citizens disillusioned with traditional parties like GERB and BSP.

Government participation and policies

We Continue the Change led the Petkov Government from December 2021 to August 2022, a coalition that included the BSP, There Is Such a People, and Democratic Bulgaria. Key policies during its tenure included freezing Rosatom's participation in the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant project, approving military aid to Ukraine, and initiating reforms to combat organized crime and corruption, such as replacing the leadership of the Commission for Illegal Assets Forfeiture. After the government's fall, the party served in the 2022-2023 Bulgarian caretaker government under Galab Donev. In 2023, it entered a rotating government agreement with GERB, leading to the Denkov Government, where its nominee Nikolay Denkov served as Prime Minister initially, with a planned rotation with GERB's Mariya Gabriel.

Category:Political parties in Bulgaria Category:2021 establishments in Bulgaria Category:Centrist parties in Europe