These two men were not even known to the Bulgarian public six months ago. Both are Harvard graduates whose sudden fame gives them a chance to win power in the Bulgarian elections.
Their aim is to root out decades of corruption if they manage to form a coalition after parliamentary elections, the third this year, for the Balkan nation of seven million people.
Kiril Petkov, 41, co-founder of We Continue the Change some say looks like Hollywood star John Travolta.
This Harvard graduate has a clear vision for his country.
“Eradicating corruption doesn’t start in parliament, it starts with forming a party and so far I’m proud to say we’re really clear on how we want to run the whole program. and the whole party and we didn’t. make one exception. If anyone is misleading us we will know, but consciously we have taken all necessary steps to prevent any kind of influence from the old powers and former political investors who are the first to line up for drafts. ‘supply,’ he said.
His colleague Asen Vasilev, 44, who also co-founded the organization We Continue the Change, argues that funds lost due to corruption and mismanagement should be reinvested in health care and other social services, because the poorest member of the European Union faces a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic which brings disaster.
“What we’ve seen so far is a very good dance performance of people saying things that they think Bulgarians want to hear and doing the exact opposite of what they say. first time, and that’s why we became a first in the poll, because we say what we really think and do what we say, it’s that easy. “
They quickly became a well-known team, deserving of praise for their efficient management and uncompromising approach to corruption.
Building on this popularity, the two men in September founded their own movement, We Continue the Change, attracting former Bulgarians from other renowned international universities.
Vasilev and Petkov, who grew up in Canada, returned to Bulgaria about 15 years ago when the country joined the EU. They understand that it is difficult to form a government coalition in their country.
“We know it will be difficult (forming a governing coalition) but I think it is not impossible, as long as there are clear objectives and open discussions with parties and people who have suggestions and contributions. constructive, which can become the majority, “he said.
The two started their own businesses and taught a Harvard-supported program at Sofia University. Despite their elite education and their years abroad, they claim to be “pragmatic” capable of representing the people.
Petkov told AFP in an interview at their party office in Sofia: “The role of government is not to embezzle funds but to invest them efficiently, almost like a business, we want to make the money profitable. of taxpayers “.
Perkov and Vasilev hope to garner enough votes to convince other anti-Borisov parties to join them in replacing the attorney general – accused of protecting corruption – and creating a new anti-corruption body.
“The only, let’s say, attitude that we don’t want to change is to end the corruption, everything else is negotiable,” he said.
According to a recent poll, We Continue the Change could come in second with at least 13% of the vote, behind Borisov’s GERB, which is expected to get more than 22%.
In a recent meeting with supporters in the west of the country, dozens of people turned to Petkov to ask questions, get his autograph and take photos with him.
Gallup International Balkan analyst Parvan Simeonov said that, like politicians before them, the Harvard duo spoke of a sort of “magical and irrational love” among Bulgarians as the last “mission bearers”.
On the social network Facebook, the two men’s support group has tens of thousands of followers. [my/jm]
“Internet evangelist. Extreme communicator. Subtly charming alcohol aficionado. Typical tv geek.”