site.btaContinue the Change Convenes General Assembly in Sofia to Elect New Leadership

Continue the Change convened a General Assembly in Sofia to elect new leadership and adopt a new political platform, the party’s press office said on Saturday. The two-day meeting is taking place at the Inter Expo Center.

The assembly’s agenda includes the election of a chair or co-chairs, and members of the Executive Council, National Council, Supervisory Board, and Ethics Commission. Delegates will also vote on amendments to the party’s statute and a new political programme.

Greetings to the delegates will be delivered by ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) Party President Svenja Hahn, Chair of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament Valerie Hayer, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) Chair Atanas Atanassov, and Yes, Bulgaria Co-chair Bozhidar Bozhanov, Continue the Change's press release said.

At the end of June, former Continue the Change co-chair Kiril Petkov resigned after allegations of exerting pressure on the borough mayors of Lyulin and Mladost regarding public procurement. Earlier, Petkov had also stepped down as an MP. Following a seven-hour session of CC’s National Council, it was agreed that Assen Vassilev would continue as sole chair until until the Party’s Reporting and Electoral General Assembly scheduled for September 27-28.

The leadership change comes after the mayors of Mladost and Lyulin and two municipal councillors withdrew, citing alleged party pressure. Anti-Corruption Commission staff conducted searches at Sofia Municipality, and the Sofia City Prosecution Office charged four individuals with accepting bribes and participation in an organized crime group. Later, Sofia Deputy Mayor Nikola Barbutov was escorted from the municipal building by police and remains in custody.