For years, Bulgarian politics has been haunted by a silent feud – not between left and right, east or west – but between philosophy and responsibility, between feudalism and real public service. And at the heart of this conflict stands one of the country’s most controversial parties: the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), originally created to represent the Turkish minority after the fall of communism.
Its founder, Ahmed Dogan, is often referred to in Bulgarian media as “The Philosopher” – a man who built his political legacy not through visible reforms or grassroots engagement, but through backroom influence, strategic silence, and enigmatic speeches that rarely, if ever, addressed the real, everyday struggles of ordinary citizens. He built a political empire from his luxury estate known as “the Saray” – far removed from the people he was supposed to represent.
For three decades, Dogan was convenient – not to the people, but to the corrupt mayors, the local oligarchs, and the so-called “schemers” who thrived in his absence. He never got involved in fixing broken systems. He never spoke clearly about poverty, healthcare, or education. He was the perfect feudal lord – serene, untouchable, and, most of all, silent.
But now, the silence is being broken.
A new political figure has emerged within the very same party – one that is openly challenging the old ways. His name: Delyan Peevski.
Once viewed as a controversial media mogul, Peevski has transformed into an active and pragmatic politician. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while others were hiding or holding press conferences, he launched one of the largest private donation campaigns in the country: funding hospitals, supplying oxygen machines, protective gear, and ambulances. His actions spoke louder than the government’s response.
Later, he initiated the “Stores for the People” campaign – a direct strike against price gouging and corporate greed in the retail sector. These shops offer essential goods at regulated, affordable prices for low-income communities. For many Bulgarians, it was the first time in years that a politician had done something tangible to ease daily life.
More importantly, under Peevski’s influence, the youth structures of DPS across several key regions – including Burgas, Shumen, Haskovo, and Blagoevgrad – have become visibly active. They no longer chant vague slogans. They build. They campaign. They deliver.
Is it a genuine shift, or clever rebranding?
Only time will tell. But one thing is certain – the feudal model of power, exemplified by Dogan’s detachment and silence, is being publicly challenged by a new style of leadership: one that engages, spends, builds, and – crucially – takes responsibility.
Bulgaria knows such figures in its history. Controversial but effective. Stamboliyski built the cooperatives. Todor Zhivkov, during communism, invested in vast infrastructure projects. Ivan Kostov brought economic stability during the 1990s crisis. Now Peevski, long a subject of media scrutiny, is trying to shift from symbol of influence to engine of reform.
At Daily Press, we believe nothing is stronger than facts.
We do not trade in rumors or political clichés. We investigate. We verify. We document. And the facts show: in a time of silence and corruption, action matters more than words. Bulgaria is in the middle of a quiet revolution – and it’s not happening in parliament. It’s happening in hospitals, villages, and small community shops.
History will judge who served the people – and who merely watched from the Saray.
