Ако харесвате нашата 
Bulgaria is one of the oldest states in Europe. It has survived external threats, domestic crises, foreign domination and internal strife; it has gone through different historical and cultural ages. Even in its darkest hours, in the years of bondage, we Bulgarians were sustained by an awareness of belonging to the Bulgarian community and tradition of statehood. It is this tradition that makes us today, too, part of the European nations and the European culture, part of Europe’s most constructive project: the European Union.
In the conditions of a global transition, the Bulgarian nation must preserve its statehood and territorial integrity. It must remain a political maker of its decisions in the regional, the European Union and on a global scale.
Bulgaria’s road ahead in the EU must be blazed by the ideas of tolerance, steady and sustainable development, which this country is to contribute and uphold in the European Union. Bulgaria needs a long-term policy of preserving and capitalizing on its strategic potentials.
The political model that we aspire to achieve is intended to attain better quality of life for Bulgarian citizens by creating political conditions for economic prosperity and guaranteeing human rights.
The LEADER Party will work for changing the tone and methods of the public political debate. We are convinced that with a tolerant and well-intentioned tone, society will be able to focus on its priorities and will mobilize itself for a full realization of the national potential.
Our conclusions about the transition period
The end of the 20th century saw the beginning in Bulgaria of a transition towards economic and political pluralism. Bulgaria has built the institutions of its society and state based on the values of democracy.
This transition has been far from an unambiguously defined period in our history. It will be remembered for the process of democratization, but also for the feeling of insecurity; for the plundering of property and national wealth, and for the country’s integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. The main conclusion to be drawn is that the institutions of government have achieved the objectives by force of decisions on which they were able to reach political consensus; and through tasks whose implementation required the commitment of the cumulative will of the national community and its representative, the State.
In the years of change, we carried out a genuine peaceful revolution, aimed at implementing a liberal democracy and market economy. We proclaimed the principles of individual freedom and responsibility, as the crucial and irreversible step in the right direction. But these principles need to be fleshed out and to become part of the thinking and behaviour of Bulgarian citizens.
In the years of transition, ordinary Bulgarians showed resilience and will in their quest for social prospects.
The political forces of the transition, however, have failed to build the kind of stable statehood that corresponds to the ideas enshrined in the Constitution. In their overwhelming majority, they proved powerless in the face of poverty and market anarchy. Ad hoc political and economic interests have prevailed over the effective implementation of the values proclaimed since the dawn of democracy: enterprise, responsibility, solidarity. An invaluable infrastructure and human potential has been wasted. For almost 20 years since the outset of changes, this remains an obstacle to the full integration of Bulgaria into the global and the European markets, and still ranks it at the bottom of the list of modern developed states.
The privatization of key assets of the Bulgarian economy was carried out without a clear strategy and without tangible economic results. The absence of a working, independent judicial system has had a negative impact on the country’s economy, as well as on politics and civil society.
Bulgaria as a member of the European Union
We are a full member of the European Union. The values and goals of united Europe correspond to the values and goals of the Bulgarian nation. Bulgaria develops in accordance with the European democratic values and the principles of delegated competence, as defined by the treaties which the individual states conclude with the EU. The picture is completed by the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, according to which the EU acts where its decisions would be more effective than those proposed at a local or regional level.
European integration is a pragmatic policy of economic and political effectiveness. It is an obligation of Bulgaria to adhere to loyal cooperation within the EU in compliance with the provisions of the treaties. Such loyalty also implies taking into account and negotiating on behalf of Bulgaria’s national interests within the system of European decision-making.
The European Union respects national identity, the constitutional order, local and regional self-government of its Member States. It recognizes the functions of the nation states pertinent to their territorial integrity, national security and public order. Each Member State is responsible for its own national security.
Bulgaria is to go through a period of state building that should correspond to the new requirements of the market economy and the long-term realization of national interests in global conditions.