Slavi Trifonov

"There Is Such a People" will not support the GERB cabinet. The leader of "There Is Such a People" Slavi Trifonov announced this on his Facebook profile.

"There Is Such a People" collected 145,193 signatures from Bulgarian citizens for the holding of a referendum to convene a Great National Assembly, which would change the state structure of Bulgaria from a parliamentary to a presidential republic. These signatures are insufficient and such a referendum will not take place.

The leader of "There Is Such a People" Slavi Trifonov has submitted an application refusing to be a representative in the 49th National Assembly, it became known at today's meeting of the Central Election Commission, reports BTA. Trifonov's application was accepted with 12 votes "for" and one "against".

GERB leader Boyko Borissov votes in a polling station in the parliamentary elections in Sofia, Bulgaria, 2 April 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

The outcome was a twist, as "We Continue the Change", led by former PM Kiril Petkov, came first place in Sunday's exit polls. 

The leader of "There Is Such a People" and former showman, Slavi Trifonov, announced that President Rumen Radev has nothing to do with his party's idea of the signature initiative started by them to convene a national poll to change the country's form of government - from a parliamentary to a presidential republic.

The Central Election Committee (CEC) has drawn the numbers of the parties and coalitions participating in the elections for the ballots of the upcoming vote

In the early parliamentary vote, Stefan Yanev's party "Bulgarian Rise" will be number 15, and "BSP for Bulgaria" - with 28.

If "We Continue the Change" gets a chance to form a government after the elections on October 2, either Asen Vassilev or Kiril Petkov will be nominated as prime minister.

This was announced by the two in a joint interview with BNT. "We will decide together after the elections," said Kiril Petkov.

"This time we will have 121 deputies. People felt that in these 7 months we made a very good first step. Yes, the absolute change will take more than 7 months, but the first steps are a fact. A real change happened at Kapitan Andreevo and we stopped pesticides from entering the kitchen of Bulgarians.

"To work towards a more technocratic government with a governing horizon of January 1, 2024."

This is what "Democratic Bulgaria" (DB) co-chairman Hristo Ivanov suggested to bTV. He clarified yesterday in the parliament that if "Democratic Bulgaria" gets the third mandate, it will do everything possible to realize it.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov arrives for the European Council Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 24 March 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/JULIEN WARNAND

"We can't find 121 MPs who are not afraid", Petkov told the media, referring to the number needed for a majority in parliament, and the influence that criminal structures allegedly have on parliament.