The award is presented to an individual whom the media team considers to be a thought leader in Bulgarian society.
MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, representing the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), was honored with the “Progressive Leader of the Year” award by Darik Radio. The recognition took place during the first edition of the series “30 Progressive Opinion Leaders in Bulgaria.” The project features live conversations with 30 individuals, providing a candid forum for discussions on the state of democracy and ideas for the country’s development from the perspective of forward-thinking leaders across various societal fields.
The leader of the European Liberals expressed his gratitude to the media team for their trust and wished for the year ahead to bring fewer divisions and more positivity and stability to Bulgaria.
“In 2022, we witnessed a war—globally and a war between institutions. I don’t believe in fists. I believe in extending a hand, in seeking dialogue because our country faces serious problems. The big question politicians need to ask themselves is: What are we achieving with this? Are we moving further away from the Eurozone, Schengen, and the Recovery and Resilience Plan, or do we want to become a more integral part of the EU? With every action it takes in Parliament, the MRF demonstrates its desire to be a stabilizing factor in Bulgarian politics—a political force around or together with which national goals can be built,” Kyuchyuk stated.
According to Kyuchyuk, “You cannot build leadership if you don’t look in the mirror. To some extent, that mirror must also reflect the past.”
He emphasized that Bulgaria needs a different political culture.
“Today, Europe is governed by coalitions. We see countries like Denmark and Sweden, known for their bloc politics models over the past 70 years. We see the Netherlands, where eight political parties govern together. Yes, they have their differences and various viewpoints, but that doesn’t drive them to tear down what they have. They understand the achievements of their own democracy—its strengths and weaknesses. This motivates them to deepen discussions on the issues where they need to find common ground. I believe Bulgaria lacks coalition culture,” Kyuchyuk said.
The MEP also noted that change is inherently tied to anyone involved in politics. “Why engage in public service if you don’t want to change the system, the environment, the rules—to reshape them in a way that meets the contemporary expectations of the 21st century and the new reality we live in?”
Тази публикация е достъпна и на следните езици: Bulgarian