The degree of tension between "Continuing Change" and "Democratic Bulgaria" increased even more on the eve of the first session of the 52nd parliament.
Why it is not mandatory for them to merge into one party
"This drama is fake. There is no need for us to be one party. We must learn to work together with the broad electorate. Tomorrow will be the day when all questions will be answered during the discussions. The essence is how to expand support so that we do not stand at 12-14 percent, which we now won in the previous ones. The goal is to really fight for 30-35% support next time," commented the elected MP from PP-DB and deputy chairman of "We continue the change" academician Nikolay Denkov to Bulgaria ON AIR.
According to him, we see many representatives of the democratic community who imagine only one way - everything merging in the direction of the right-wing democratic community.
An expression of this desire was the proposal of "Yes, Bulgaria" for a roadmap to join together in a common right-wing party, academician Denkov gave an example in the program "Denyat ON AIR".
What does the PP not like in the proposal of "Yes, Bulgaria"
He is convinced that this path always leads to the encapsulation of the parties towards voters who live in the center of Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna.
"The only way out of this political trap is to seek an opening towards a national party that seeks support in all populated areas. We suggest that we seek to expand the people we speak to - this means not only right-wing, but also centrist messages. We hold on to our centrist profile, social systems ensure the development of human capital," said academician Denkov.
"We are presented with an alternative - either we merge into one party, or we split up and no longer talk to each other. These were the two options that were publicly announced by the DB colleagues. The truth is different. We can look for different voters and have our own coalition relations. We already have a coalition agreement for the election of the president. We will support one of the proposed candidates. We will also make a coalition agreement if we go to two parliamentary groups, how will they work", the guest also said.
Acad. Denkov added that since 2021 they have been waiting for "Yes, Bulgaria" and DSB to become one party: "It was announced that it should happen soon, we haven't seen it and there is a reason for this".
We will seek to uphold common principles
"Rumen Radev went out across the country to get support, with which he received a majority. We did this in 2021 and since then we have been constantly getting used to the urban right. This is a line that has repeatedly led to the encapsulation of the electorate," the former prime minister pointed out.
According to him, it was frivolous to say in the media and on Facebook "Let's make a right-wing party".
For Academician Denkov, it is normal for parties with different profiles and different priority policies not to merge into one party, but to find the right relations on how to work together to uphold the principles on which they have no differences.
In the PP, we have not discussed the position of a deputy speaker of the parliament at all. We have always supported Gen. Atanas Atanasov, the interlocutor pointed out.
Possible work of the PP with "Progressive Bulgaria"
There have been no talks with the PP on the part of "Progressive Bulgaria" to appoint a justice minister in exchange for support for justice reform, announced academician Denkov.
"Progressive Bulgaria" must decide with whom it will secure a two-thirds majority. The key for us is what the procedure will be, which guarantees that the SJC will not be filled by individuals dependent on political patronage or compromising materials and bribes. Only those without skeletons in their closets should have a chance to be elected by the National Assembly," he insisted.
Urgent priorities for the new parliament
"The budget is an urgent task. It must include a package of measures related to supporting businesses for electricity prices. A package of measures is also needed regarding people below the poverty line. All this must be done within a deficit of 3% of GDP. "The municipalities are also waiting for the national budget and the professional guilds," said Academician Denkov.
He explained that a related topic is the measures under the Public Procurement Law, where there are 2 billion euros pending, which "must be secured with changes in the laws."
"We will support this process. We can initiate the creation of the Anti-Corruption Commission, measures can also be taken in the energy sector," concluded Academician Denkov.