Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) with Ahmed Dogan at the Helm

A founding assembly of a new political party called "Alliance for Rights and Freedoms" (APS) was held in a capital hotel. Ahmed Dogan is once again at the head of the formation, who was elected honorary chairman. Despite this honorary position, Dogan will also have operational functions in accordance with the charter of the new formation.

Above the logo of the new party is depicted a falcon carrying a laurel branch in its beak. The symbolism itself immediately points to the party's striving to achieve certain goals, but the details remain unclear.

The organization will be led by four co-chairs. Among them is Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Tsonev, a former military minister from a previous cabinet. He will be responsible for administrative affairs and proceedings. The other co-chairs are Taner Ali, who will be responsible for organizational activities and regional policy, Dimitar Nikolov - for security and ethnic issues, Sevim Ali - for social policy and Hayri Sadakov - for education and religious issues. The distribution of responsibilities shows a wide scope of activity, covering key areas of public life.

The central operational bureau of the party includes 17 members. They will have responsibilities in various areas, including communications, election technologies, local government and youth policies, as well as healthcare.

During the founding assembly, Ahmed Dogan emphasized the need for a lot of work. "We have a lot of work ahead of us", he said. Dogan called on the participants to focus on the restoration and strengthening of local structures, which, according to him, "are forgotten". He added that it is the municipal and regional structures that manage the party, emphasizing the importance of local units for the future of the organization. "The locals must restore their form, content and responsibility", Dogan also said.

The honorary chairman emphasized that the beginning of the project is good and noted that the leadership team will be supplemented over time. He also expressed confidence in the potential of the participants. "Anyone who has the will and desire to fight has this opportunity", Dogan said.

Dogan defined the tasks ahead of the party as "a big test", but did not hide his optimism. "My appeal to you is to be as energized as today. If I had any doubt whether to return to politics or not, when I saw you - I was thrilled", he said. "With such a team, I would go to the other end of the world", Dogan said, quoted by the press center.

After the end of the conference, Ahmed Dogan refused to answer journalistic questions, apologizing due to a deteriorated health condition. According to Taner Ali, the honorary chairman will participate in the restoration of the structures locally.

In a declaration read to the media, the founders state that the party is being created "in response to the need to restore normality in political life and oppose a model based on fear, pressure and dependencies". It is emphasized that the APS is based on liberal values and the protection of human rights and freedoms. The founders express their intention to work for the promotion of equality, the protection of human dignity and the provision of peace and stability in the country, the region and Europe.

The leadership announced that the main focus of the work until the first national conference will be the construction and strengthening of local structures, which were defined as "a priority policy" of the new party.

All documents for the registration of the party will be submitted to the court within the legal deadlines. The first national conference of the APS is expected to take place no later than September 2026 after the registration of the party.

At the opening of the founding conference, Taner Ali emphasized that the events after a certain date are among the reasons for the creation of the new formation, which is based on the values "fundamental to Mr. Ahmed Dogan when he created DPS". He noted that Dogan's presence is a sign of continuity and that the founders "have not betrayed the ideas, ideals and mission of DPS". The goals of the APS, according to Ali, include the promotion of rights and freedoms, equal rights for all citizens, protection of human dignity and ensuring peace and prosperity in the country and the region.

At the end of his address, Taner Ali expressed gratitude to the founders "for the sharedness and togetherness", and to Ahmed Dogan - gratitude for his role as "a guarantor of the ideology, values and spirituality" around which the new party unites.

Ilhan Kyuchuk explained through social media that he will not be nominated to the leadership and will not be present due to participation in an international forum abroad. He commented on the importance of evaluating the past and learning lessons. "And here comes the place to say that I do not want my name to be associated with leadership positions in the new political project. I have been to enough of them, and what I have learned over the years is that it is not the posts that make politics, but the work that makes the difference! In my personal journey, and in my work, I have not always been right, but I have always had a backbone and I have kept my head held high", Kyuchuk said.

Also on the eve of the founding conference, Hasan Aziz, former mayor of another city, refused to join. "In the last two years, many members and sympathizers have been subjected to repression without any protection. My choice is to take the attacks myself, as has been the case so far, rather than them being transferred to the new party. I would not want the increasing political pressure to be to the detriment of the new formation because of me and I will not be present at the forum!", Aziz wrote on his profile.