Balgarianovinite.com Yes, Bulgaria Co-Chair Bozhidar Bozhanov congratulated Radan Kanev on his election as leader of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), saying it is extremely important for the Democratic Bulgaria coalition to continue functioning effectively and to be further strengthened, Bozhanov’s party said in a position circulated to the media here on Saturday evening.
“For us in Yes, Bulgaria, it is extremely important that Democratic Bulgaria continues to work well and builds on what has already been achieved. I have no doubt that this will happen,” Bozhanov said. He added that the leaderships of Yes, Bulgaria and DSB are expected to meet soon because “operational tasks cannot wait.” The two parties are part of the opposition Democratic Bulgaria coalition.
Bozhanov said the democratic community would nominate a single candidate for president. He described the process as one that had begun a year ago and in which the coalition is fully invested. Whether former Bulgarian National Bank governor and ex caretaker prime minister Andrey Gurov decides to run is entirely his own decision, Bozhanov said, adding that Yes, Bulgaria has repeatedly expressed a positive assessment of Gurov’s work as caretaker prime minister, particularly in ensuring fair elections, “but not only for that.”
He said the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), which he described as an affiliated organization of GERB, could not be part of that process because it continues to take tactical actions in GERB’s interest. “They are free to nominate and support whoever they wish in the presidential race,” he added.
Bozhanov said that next week Yes, Bulgaria will propose a comprehensive package of legislative amendments aimed at closing what he described as “the corruption taps” in the healthcare sector. He argued that vested interests are regrouping while reforms are absent despite growing healthcare spending, with billions of leva continuing to flow to lobbying interests. According to Bozhanov, GERB has blocked reform attempts in the sector for years. As an example, he cited his party’s proposal requiring private hospitals to conduct public procurement procedures in order to eliminate tenfold price differences for the same medicines.
Commenting on the election of members of the Supreme Judicial Council, Bozhanov said GERB appears ready to support any proposal put forward by Progressive Bulgaria. He questioned why the party was “serving up” such an important institution, asking whether GERB leader Boyko Borissov and Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) leader Delyan Peevski were effectively signalling: “We are giving you everything, just don’t touch us.”
Bozhanov welcomed what he described as the emergence of political consensus in favour of restoring fully machine-based voting and removing restrictions on the number of polling stations outside the European Union. He noted that Yes, Bulgaria has advocated these measures for a long time.
Referring to reports that the Interior Ministry is investigating Delyan Peevski, Bozhanov said the matter is of significant public interest because investigators are examining whether crimes involving the transportation or laundering of money may have been committed. He described as particularly worrying the discrepancies between airport records and Border Police data, arguing that the issue goes beyond whether former National Assembly chair Desislava Atanasova travelled with Peevski and raises questions about a possible breach of national security.
Bozhanov also criticized the gas supply agreement between Bulgaria’s state-owned Bulgargaz and Turkish energy company BOTAS. He said the contract had initially been presented as highly beneficial but later had to be renegotiated to prevent Bulgaria from losing EUR 500,000 per day. “Türkiye will not simply give up this money,” he said, adding that the real question is how Türkiye will seek compensation, whether through Lukoil, motorway projects or other means. Strategic agreements of this kind, he argued, should not be concluded behind closed doors.
Commenting on Bulgaria’s position on the European Union’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, Bozhanov said the government’s decision not to veto the package was the correct one. However, he questioned whether the government’s actions may have resulted in a Russian oligarch or Russian agent being left off the sanctions list. He also argued that the Cabinet had failed to convincingly explain how threatening to veto sanctions against the owner of Lukoil served Bulgaria’s interests.
Bozhanov added that British authorities had requested documents from Bulgaria concerning meetings with Litasco amid suspicions of attempts to circumvent UK sanctions. He said the forthcoming decision on whether the UK’s derogation would be renewed or revoked would be an event of major importance. Yes, Bulgaria’s Bozhanov Congratulates Kanev, Says Democratic Opposition Will Field Joint Presidential Candidate 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-11 20:18:31 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law