89146 | 19 June 2025 | 00:25

Ethnicization was the capsule that was maintained in DPS for years. Peevski put an end to this. DPS is now a Bulgarian party, second in size, whose growth is recognized by all sociologists.

 On May 28 and 30, I published in two parts my report-analytical text about the processes in the DPS party, which led to the split between Dogan and Peevski and Dogan's ultimate elimination from politics, with titles: "In only 10 months, the Phenomenon ended the Philosopher. How did this happen? (PART 1)" https://epicenter.bg/article/Valeriya-Veleva--Samo-za-10-mesetsa-Fenomena-priklyuchi-Filosofa--Kak-se-sluchi-tova---PARVA-ChAST-/388236/11/0


 and

 "Why the Philosopher lost to the Phenomenon. The Duel at the DPS Estate (PART 2)" https://epicenter.bg/article/Valeriya-Veleva--Zashto-Filosofa-zagubi-ot-Fenomena--Duelat-na-chiflik-v-DPS--VTORA-ChAST-/391676/.

 My final sentence was: "During these ten months since breaking away from Peevski, Dogan has not been able to handle any of the problems he created himself, proving that he is incapable of dealing with any crisis moment; he failed to demonstrate leadership; he ignored political realities and reached such a tragic political end, which no other politician of the transition has experienced.

 But this is not the end of this war."

 Many have asked me - what will be the end of this war and have waited for my answer in the THIRD part. Well, the time has come for me to write it.

 THE WAR HAS ENDED.

 Exactly one year ago, on June 29, 2024. Delyan Peevski held a working meeting with the 40 municipal mayors from MRF and declared in front of them: "The new beginning for MRF is a fact. Those who don't understand it, remain in the past." At that time, many still did not comprehend the scale of the political operation that Peevski had planned. He had decided that MRF needed to be put on a new path that would correspond to the new domestic and geopolitical realities. He told me: I will make sure that MRF conforms to it! While on TV studios from morning until evening his name was aimlessly mentioned, he literally did not sleep in order to plan his moves, meet with people, form teams, keep an eye on everything and everyone - until he achieved his goal.

 And he did.

 However, Dogan did not understand him at that time.

 Two weeks later, on July 10, 2024, the Honorable Undertaking made the unprecedented move to demand the resignation of Peevski as co-chair of the MRF . Peevski refused. And thus began a never before seen in Bulgarian political life war, which threw Dogan out of the game - politically and personally.

 A year after this initial meeting with the mayors of MRF, Delyan Peevski is now their SOLE leader, recognized by all. "The New Beginning" is the party's strategy, which positions the MRF as an equal partner in politics and governance, rather than a balance between the interests of other political entities. This is the main difference between Dogan and Peevski in their perception of the MRF as a player on the political scene in our country.

 DO MAYORS - DO PEOPLE

 One day, history will probably study exactly how Peevski managed to achieve his goal. Unlike Dogan, he didn't make any wrong moves. Dogan didn't realize what kind of opponent he was facing. The truth is, Dogan didn't give Peevski any other chance but to crush him. Peevski was aware of the mechanisms that move DPS, he knew the people - both those who would stand by him and those who revolved around Dogan. His scheme was planned like a computer - by days and hours.

 Then, on June 24th, Peevski pointed out the MRF mayors as the main subjects through which he would achieve his goals. "The MRF mayors are the ones who implement the DPS policies and are among the people, along with our party structures, that's why they are our litmus test for our direction and actions." The systematic and methodical work with the mayors continued. And they are everything for the people in the municipalities of the DPS. If you have the mayors - you have the people. First, he promised them that they will not be treated as second-hand, then he asked them for programs for regional development, then he provided them with budget resources and told them: Work!

 Meanwhile, the group around Dogan suffered loss after loss, without being able to formulate a strategy to ward off the blows. Dogan failed to make a single successful move, did not formulate a cause, and had no ideas to preserve the formation born out of him. His behavior had nothing to do with the aura of a strategist, visionary and grand politician, which was attached to his name over the years. At the same time, the legal saga for control over the double-letter abbreviation and, subsequently, all attributes of party power continued.

 A MARKED PARTY CONFERENCE

 On December 22, 2024, Peevski summoned a National Conference of DPS, which was conducted by the book. He was welcomed with enthusiastic applause, accompanied by the sounds of "Make me crash" by Rockin' for decades. All speakers in the open part emphasized his exceptional role in the new beginning of the movement, which brings the formation "closer to the people". Yordan Tsonov announced that MRF-NEW BEGINNING has "regained the connection with the people" and thanks to Peevski, 550 million levs have been allocated for "our municipalities". Euphoric Peevski was elected as the sole chairman of the Movement, for whom all 544 delegates at the forum voted unanimously. The conference was significant for several reasons - it placed the party on a new conservative path and declared an increased role for the state. In its program declaration, it states: first - an end to ethnization and liberalism within the MRF; second - protection of the family, a path for the youth, and inclusion of women in politics; and third - work for the people is a duty and worthy service. The forum addressed the major goal set by Peevski's party - to bring back the youth who have fled the regions in recent years. The party documents do not contain ideological concepts, rather they focus on pragmatic solutions to current issues. And this was the fundamental difference with the MRF of Dogan, which the people around him call the "authentic MRF". They mainly talk about rights and freedoms, while the new MRF- about economic and social issues. Peevski and his team constantly instilled in the young people in the municipalities: No one can change their name or religion anymore. And for them, such a topic no longer exists. So the intimidating "Revival process" remained in the past, and Peevski relied on the young people - to make their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents look at the world with different eyes. His strategy turned out to be a winning one. If it weren't for the young people - this process wouldn't have gone so quickly and successfully.

 DOOR-TO-DOOR WORK

 "I agreed to be the leader of Bulgarians, Turks, Roma, Pomaks, Millet, Vlachs. I took on the mission to never make you second-class and I promise you that. "You will never be second class, they will never be able to put you in a corner and everyone understands it," said Delian Peevski in his emotional speech and his words spread throughout the regions.

 The mayors started working door-to-door - convincing, breaking stereotypes, fighting against the myth "Dogan," deeply rooted in the minds of Bulgarian Turks. "It was very difficult, there was enormous resistance," recently admitted a mayor from one of the Kardzhali municipalities to me. All of this was not interesting for the morning TV blocks, for whom these processes in the MRF remained unsolved. No one delved into the depths of what was happening within the ranks of the DPS. Peevski and his people worked persistently, but very carefully there. There was patience to convince one person after another. The conference changed the Constitution, crossed out the position of "honorary chairman", and Peevski sent a letter to the Liberal International, the ALDE Party, the "Renew Europe" Group in the EP and all liberal structures on the continent, announcing that the membership of DPS was immediately terminated due to their "encapsulation, marginalization, lack of understanding and disconnection from the problems of European citizens".

 The other co-chairman of MRF, Dzhevdet Chakarov, declared the conference illegitimate and immediately sent the decisions taken there to court. At the same time, the Sofia City Court (SCC) refused to register the decision of the Central Council of DPS, made by Dogan to exclude Delyan Peevski from the party. It was made in the absence of a quorum on August 24 by Chakarov and 12 other remaining members of Dogan's faction. The Doganists had already lost the abbreviation "DPS" and forced Dogan to run for elections together with the farmers under the name "Alliance for Rights and Freedoms" (ARF). A month prior, the interim government provided the MRF headquarters - NB building on 23 Vrabcha Street in Sofia, under the principle - if there is a party, there is a headquarters.

 THE SYMBOL IN TWO PORTRAITS

In the following months after the summer of 2024, Peevski accumulated party and government power, while Dogan only suffered losses - first he parted with the Varna TPP and his entire business; then he was shamefully expelled from the mansions near Sofia and the sea; he lost half of his party in the elections; the other half gradually left him; he lost the MRF brand; and finally the doors of the party headquarters were slammed in his face.

 In fact, Dogan lost all of this at the moment he parted ways with Peevski for the support of the first GERB cabinet, once again led by Zhelyazkov. But at that time, Dogan was not aware of this. He didn't even suspect the extent of the collapse he was heading towards, and at a furious pace.

 Peevski was "pressing" him with the motive: I know who I am, what I can do, and what I have done for MRF. I know how weak Dogan is and what a "legend" he is.

 On the symbolic date for the Bulgarian Turks, May 19, 2025, from the headquarters of the party on 45A Stamboliyski Blvd, they displayed the portrait of Dogan, the archives, and the documentation of the Movement - 36 years after the May events, which served as a business card for the Philosopher. It was a historic moment. After losing the party, Dogan also had his headquarters taken away from him. As the law dictates. One myth collapsed completely and irreversibly in front of everyone's eyes, serving as evidence for the biggest political failure in our country. On the very same day, the Turkish ambassador to our country, H. E. Mehmet Saat Uyank, stood at the podium in Jebel under the huge portrait of Delyan Peevski and paid tribute to the peaceful resistance in Jebel on May 19, 1989, emphasizing that this was a turning point in the struggle for identity and freedom of the Turks in Bulgaria. This was significant - Turkey recognized Peevski's leadership over the Bulgarian Turks. It was then that I wrote: "May 19, 2025 is the end of the MRF created by Ahmed Dogan."

 But... there were still a few steps to be taken for the end to come.

 THE BUTAFOBIR AROUND DOGAN

 Peevski had still not "finished" Dogan. There were still residual structures around him, although in a ramshackle state, there were still mayors who supported him. These were some straws that Dogan was grasping onto with the hope of regaining his glory.

 On May 15, Dogan took over as the new chairman of the ARF with a seven-member council! He no longer had a party, but he had a seven-member council! It was announced that the task of the group of seven was to assist Chairman Dogan and the Central Executive Committee in ensuring a "higher level of coordination, strategic planning and sustainable development of the party structure in the face of upcoming reforms". The "authentic" members did not miss the opportunity to emphasize that Dogan's new position was due to his visionary role, "which continues to be the foundation for the identity and development of the Movement." This entire arrangement was a farce! Just by reading this text, you can understand its absurdity. Dogan was not aware of the sad situation he was in. He did not have a side glance. He had lost the senses of a political animal in that sense that every true politician should have.

 Either he was being lied to, or he was lying to himself. Surprisingly, from this presidential council Dzhevdet Chakarov resigned, despite the fact that at that moment he was the co-chairman of MRF both legally and politically.

 ON THE 329TH DAY OF THE SPLIT WITH DOGAN PEEVSKI BECOMES SOLE CHAIRMAN OF MRF

 Eight days later, on May 27, the shocking news broke - Dzhevdet Chakarov resigns from the co-chairmanship of MRF, leaves the party and the National Council of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and supports the ideas of the new beginning by calling for unity within MRF. The two posed together in the most iconic photo for MRF.

 The next day, on May 28, Chakarov also withdrew his cassation appeal in the case of Delian Peevski's exclusion from the party. The Supreme Court terminated the proceedings and Peevski remained the sole chairman of the MRF - the MRF, created by Dogan and his group on January 4, 1990. Thus, shamefully and "without a fight", Dogan parted ways with his party - 35 years after its establishment and 329 days after his split with Peevski.

 329 days in which the Phenomenon irreparably destroyed the Philosopher. The events that followed unfolded at lightning speed.

 DOGAN - "FROM THE GREATEST TRAITOR" TO "A SAD MAN"

 On May 30, Ahmed Dogan gathered his closest confidants to discuss the future actions of his faction. They decided - they will create a new party. However, tension arose among his supporters - some wanted it to follow the "Dogan" model, while others insisted that Dogan take responsibility for the losses so far and step down to make way for younger leaders. They spoke, they argued, some accused Dogan, others continued to praise him, but practical work on creating a new project has not started. And it's unlikely to start.

 My prediction is that a new project around Dogan will not be born. There is no energy for it, no leadership, and no cause. There is no way for anyone else to enter the field that Peevski has already taken over. Kasim Dal's statement was significant: "The responsibility for what is happening in MRF lies with Ahmed Dogan and he is hindering the creation of a new political project." Dal went even further, calling Dogan "the biggest traitor" to the cause of MRF and pointing out: "Things in MRF have degenerated and we are starting to resemble BSP in its toughest and most totalitarian years." He also dealt a devastating blow to his image: "I sincerely feel sorry for him (Dogan). "He may be a very wealthy man, he may be very cunning and sly, but it turned out that Ahmed is a pitiful person."

 At the meeting of Dogan, one of the deputies from ARF crossed over to Peevski's side. There were talks of creating a parliamentary group for ARF. The truth is, when Chakarov went to Peevski and gave him the co-chairmanship of DPS, he took with him an additional 6-7 deputies from ARF who insisted on being accepted into the New beginning. Peevski refused.
The ARF group will gradually be marginalized and in the next elections, ARF will not enter parliament.

 While Dogan was drawing up fruitless plans for the future, Peevski continued to bring mayors on board.

 PEEVSKI TAKES OVER DOGAN'S STRONGHOLD

 On June 3, two mayors from Kardzhali - Ardino and Momchilgrad, who were previously loyal to Dogan, stood before Peevski. On June 11, the mayors of Madan and Kirkovo joined New beginning, who were loyal to Dogan until yesterday. On June 16, the female mayor of Krumovgrad, with six mandates and extremely close to Dogan, announced that she was joining "Novo nachalo" with the words: "Goodbye, Dogan! Goodbye, MRF!" She was the last of the mayors in Kardzhali to recognize the leadership of Peevski. The media rightly noted that the "fortress of Dogan" had fallen. On June 17, in order to seal this historic fact, Peevski welcomed all seven mayors from the region - Kardzhali, Krumovgrad, Ardino, Kirkovo, Momchilgrad, Chernoochene and Dzhebel - to his office in the National Assembly and took a photo with them. Together, they declared unity in the party under the leadership of Delian Peevski. With this, it can be said that the process of division within MRF has ended and the party is rebuilding under its new leader.

 However, Peevski did not stop there. He wanted to include everything in MRF. On June 17, the mayors of Devin and Rudozem posed for a photo with Peevski. On June 18, the last, toughest and most symbolic municipality for Dogan - Ruen, embraced the "new beginning" and the mayor sealed the moment with a traditional photo with the new leader. This was a huge victory for Peevski, because 95% of the population of Ruen has Turkish origins and he managed to unite the rival lobbies in Ruen. In the group photo, it can be seen that former mayor Ismail Osman is standing on the right side of Delian Peevski, while the current mayor is on the left. The photo is historic because Mehmed and Osman were in conflict during the local elections in 2023. The photo makes it clear that another significant member of MRF-Dogan has joined the ranks of the "New Beginning," and that is Durhan Mustafa, also a former mayor of Ruen and former member of parliament. Mustafa was in the party from its very creation and was one of Sokol's most loyal followers.

 On the same day - June 18, the MPs of Dogan lost the right to use the abbreviation "DPS-DPS". Their parliamentary group will be called by the name listed in the CEC for the elections - ARF. This is now the final chapter in Dogan's political life. There is no MRF party, no MRF group, no MRF headquarters.

 There is only a past.

 THE TURKS GOT A BULGARIAN TO LEAD THEM

 Behind these dry facts lies a lot of work. So much, that few can comprehend its scope. To change the attitudes in the minds of the Dogan mayors, the most hardline ones like Shineh Suleiman in Kirkovo and Sebihan Mehmed in Krumovgrad, means that one has achieved everything in MRF. This process began in late 2023 when Peevski stood with a raised face at the Turkyan fountain in front of Bulgarian Turks and said to them: "I love you. I will lead you! We have a debt to you." If they had booed him there, it would have been the end of him. They accepted him. They believed him. They applauded him. They took the pain out of their souls in front of him.

 The Turks accepted a Bulgarian to lead them, despite Dogan's resistance. Why? Because they were tired of lies and misconceptions. Because, they said, for 35 years Dogan had not solved any of their problems arising from the so-called Revival Process, because they felt isolated, because the agents of the State Security and their heirs did not receive retribution, because they were only used during elections. This was pictorially portrayed in the Facebook group "I support Dogan" as follows: "Only during elections did you pay attention to the regions and like according to a scenario, you shook hands with Ahmed, Mehmed, Ayse, Fatme... at nights you poured alcohol, and in the morning you went to pray. Disgusted by the muddy streets, the boring life, and the pleas of people for small, very small things, you rushed to get into your expensive cars and head towards the luxuries in the capital."
 

 This process of the flying away of the cause of the MRF will still find its explanation from the historians. Ethnicization was the capsule that had been maintained in the MRF for years. Peevski put an end to it. MRF is now a Bulgarian party, second in size, whose growth is recognized by all sociologists.

 And one more thing that was seen in this drama, unfolding before our eyes - people want to have a strong leader. Peevski is exactly like that. They want to be led by someone who solves their problems. Peevski does that.

 Dogan lost the emotional battle. There is no way to compete with a person who is full of energy and power, while you rely on the memory of a myth and show physical and political weakness. Yudzhel Atilla, a former ally of Dogan, wrote: "We are experiencing a fateful historical moment!

 MRF is ending as a party of the community! It ends historically, not just legally! Something fundamental has been broken! Something very valuable has collapsed! And that is the trust that suffered over the years, but today it is finally lost! The community has been forgotten in favor of another philosophy, building a cult for a messiah, for an elite, for infallibility, for no alternatives!"

 The anti-Dogan wave has deeply penetrated the tissue of MRF.

 The philosopher has been dethroned by his own people.

  The floor of peevski is 550 000 votes on the next election
 
 In the previous elections before the split, MRF under Peevski's leadership became the second strongest political force, with 47 deputies and the support of 366,000 votes.

 This was a stunning success, and ARF leader Ahmed Dogan did not congratulate anyone. At that time, GERB-UDFas the first political force only received 170,000 votes.

 In the last election for the 51st National Assembly, after the split, MRF under Peevski received 280,000 votes, while MRF under Dogan received 180,000. With the new development of processes within DPS, which I mentioned above, in the next elections, the majority of votes for DPS will return to Peevski's leadership. However, he has room for expanding his sail and for including additional electoral potential within 120-150,000 followers. Peevski has set the bar high - at least 550,000 votes in the upcoming elections and no less than 60 parliament members. These numbers may seem unattainable to some observers, but for Peevski they are a real goal and he will do everything possible to achieve it. Just as he has achieved all his goals up until now. Before the day in the Facebook group "I support Ahmed Dogan", they wrote: "Close the group, such a person doesn't exist!" This is already a heavy sentence... Then I asked Peevski how he feels. "I'm tired! I have only slept for three hours a day for a whole year. I will only make sense of everything now. I took on a huge responsibility! I'm sad!" But Dogan made no move towards reconciliation. That's why the party is purging itself. And begins to live its authentic life. They need to have someone. To know that they exist! And I proved to them that they can trust me. They gave me their trust and I will not betray it. This is a huge responsibility. In this party there is a lot of pain that has not been experienced. The young people want to live well and have escaped. I will fix the roads, the lighting, the kindergartens. My goal is - to bring back the children from abroad! I am sure that many will say - enough with these sentiments. It's just that Peevski never throws his words into the wind. And believes in the success of what he does. Because he assesses his strengths and knows the paths to reach the goal.