The leader of the "We Continue the Change" party Asen Vassilev sharply criticized Rumen Radev's government and accused him of lying. According to him, the president (and current political player) simultaneously complains about a "heavy legacy" while appointing people who have been part of the government for years and bear direct responsibility for that state.
Vassilev claims that the "Progressive Bulgaria" formation has effectively entered into a "coalition" (sglobka) with GERB – the very party it supposedly fights against. In a detailed post on "Facebook", he points out specific examples and names to substantiate his thesis.
Here is what Asen Vassilev writes:
"The complaints of "Rumen Radev" about the "bad legacy" are absolutely untrue. In the current "Ministry of Finance", there is a coalition between "Radev" and "GERB". "Rositsa Velkova" was Minister of Finance from August 2022 to June 2023. Afterwards, in January 2025, "Temenuzhka Petkova" brought her back to the "Ministry of Finance" to the position of Director of the "State Expenditures Directorate".
"Lyudmila Petkova" was Minister of Finance from April 2024 to January 2025 in the "Glavchev" cabinet. One closed the "2024 budget", and the other checked the expenses for the "2025 budget". It was the "2024 budget" with a "3% deficit", confirmed by "Eurostat", that opened Bulgaria's path to the Eurozone. And if by the end of 2025 there are any hidden expenses (as "Radev" claims), then promoting the director of the "State Expenditures Directorate" to deputy minister is, to put it mildly, strange."
"I recommend that "Rumen Radev" and "Galab Donev" stop lying and get to work, if they can."
Vassilev emphasizes that this is not an isolated case, but part of a wider scheme in which, in his words, a "coalition" is visible between Radev and GERB in several key sectors.
"This is not a single case. There is a coalition between "Radev" and "GERB" in "energy" as well. There, the new minister also found a "bad legacy", which she obviously left behind herself, because she is the only irreplaceable deputy minister since 2021."
"The return of "Ivanka Dineva", who was removed during the "Denkov" cabinet after a very tough battle, speaks of a coalition between "Radev" and "GERB" in "healthcare" as well.
Regarding the "services", I will not even say a word. "Radev" blocked both "Kiril Petkov" and "Nikolai Denkov" when they tried to change the leadership of "DANS". Now "Dencho Denev", before leaving, kindly offered the candidacy of "Radev's" chosen one for appointment."
According to Vassilev, "Radev" has a full parliamentary majority, and therefore the alliance between him and GERB is "a choice, not an inevitability".
"Radev has a full majority, so the alliance between "Radev" and "GERB" is a choice, not a necessity. It is becoming clear that throughout the entire period from 2021 until now, "Radev" (and his caretaker cabinets) and "GERB" worked to block reforms because they think in the same way: "lean pizza" (excuse me, "drip irrigation") for the people and "thick" (watering with a hose) for the oligarchs close to the government."
In his words, this is a model of governance in which there is public talk of a "bad legacy" and fighting "oligarchy", while in practice, the same individuals who have been part of the status quo for years and are responsible for it are being appointed and promoted.