GERB leader Boyko Borisov stated that none of the current presidential contenders can unite the nation during the "The Next 20: A Vision for the Future" discussion in Burgas. He emphasized that the level of politics has fallen below a critical minimum and defended GERB's decision not to field its own presidential candidate pair. According to Borisov, if the party had proposed its own candidate, there would be no talk of "Petrohan" or a pardoned drug dealer.
The forum was organized by the Association "Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria" to mark its 20th anniversary and was supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. During the event, Borisov outlined GERB's future course, categorically expressing the party's desire to return to its 2009 conservative principles – to the ideology of zero deficit, support for entrepreneurs, and a rejection of populism.
The GERB leader admitted that in recent years he himself had been "the biggest populist," as the party joined the trend of constantly increasing pensions and wages. He explained that the "more, more, more" model has led to a debt spiral and increased indebtedness. Instead, he insisted on a policy focused on the people who create economic value and on long-term planning with a horizon of five to ten years, rather than seeking immediate political effects.
On the economic front, Borisov emphasized the role of small, medium, and large businesses, stating that the state must protect them from excessive administrative burdens. He called for the creation of a long-term strategy to stimulate income through technology, innovation, and production, rather than through bloated spending. "We want to be fast, we want to be innovative, we want to give the entrepreneur maximum strength," he said, adding that the administration must become more efficient instead of constantly debating its reduction or expansion.
Regarding the social sphere, the GERB leader emphasized that the state does not neglect socially vulnerable groups, noting that the "Swiss rule" is already being applied to pensioners. However, he insisted on a balance that also includes working people in the business sector. Borisov recalled a period of GERB's governance when the government maintained financial discipline and reported a surplus despite high expenditures, emphasizing that any government thinking about future generations must act in this manner.
Other key priorities he identified include:
- limiting government spending and indebtedness;
- greater autonomy for municipalities in solving local problems;
- protecting the freedom of citizens.