site.btaUPDATED Hristo Ivanov Resigns as Yes, Bulgaria Leader, Gives Up Seat in Parliament

The Executive Board of Yes, Bulgaria has accepted the resignation of party chairperson Hristo Ivanov, Ivanov himself said at a briefing at Yes, Bulgaria’s headquarters in Sofia on Monday. "After a meeting of the Executive Board, where we analyzed the picture of the elections, our Executive Board decided to accept my resignation," he said. Ivanov also stressed that he will give up on his seat in next Parliament, the 50th National Assembly, and will not run for Yes, Bulgaria leader.

Yes, Bulgaria is part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition, which is part of the larger Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition.

"We believe that this result of the parties from our coalition requires in itself the assumption of leadership responsibility, which is why I resigned, and my colleagues supported this decision," Ivanov explained.

Ivanov explained that CC-DB’s election results require taking leadership responsibility, which is why he resigned.

"We proposed a policy of seeking an opportunity for dialogue – to overcome the political crisis by means of uniting around specific reforms and big national goals. In Yes, Bulgaria, we are proposing this policy since 2022. Once the systemic nature of the political crisis in Bulgaria became apparent, especially after the beginning of the war, it became clear to us that Bulgaria could not afford to go with the flow without a formula allowing for a government to be formed despite all the divisions," he said, adding that such a government must be reformist and must start solving the crisis.

Ivanov clarified that he still considers the political course proposed by Yes, Bulgaria to be the correct one. "We failed to convince the public and our voters of it. Communication-wise, I have to take responsibility for that as a leader," he explained, adding that the lack of trust in the party’s policy was the reason for his resignation.

In Ivanov’s words, Yes, Bulgaria will hold a new National Conference to elect new governing bodies.

Ivanov said he would do everything possible to regain the voters’ trust. "I am not giving up any of the causes I have worked for, he stressed and said that he would dedicate himself to the Yes, Bulgaria party.