Velichye vows to defy ‘mafia state’ after ouster

The Velichye party will adopt a fundamentally new parliamentary approach starting immediately, according to party group leader Ivelin Mihaylov, who addressed reporters outside the legislature on Tuesday. Eight of nine factions supported disbanding the Velichye caucus despite the party’s efforts to support opposition colleagues and expose government wrongdoing, he said. Mihaylov characterized state institutions as corrupt and compared seeking their help to requesting assistance from organized crime. He cited repeated attempts by his party to document irregularities through evidence and visual documentation without triggering any official response.

Mihaylov noted his party previously defended other opposition groups when rivals removed their lawmakers, when authorities wrongly jailed a mayor, when opponents tried to oust a deputy speaker, and when immunity protections faced challenges. The Velichye faction signed supporting documents and cast the sole opposition ballot for an opposition assembly speaker, he added. Opposition parties have fallen individually while cooperating with the administration, leading Mihaylov to announce his group will abandon participating in what he termed government distractions. The party intends to concentrate on significant matters and address essential questions rather than engage in broader political disputes moving forward.