Citizens plan to create a civil movement in support of a presidential republic and collect signatures for a national referendum to change the form of government, said Krasimir Yankov, coordinator of the initiative at the BTA National Press Club in Sofia together with representatives of the movement.

"The arguments we have and what unites us is everything that happens in the country. We are not a political party, this has nothing to do with the status quo politicians," Jankov explained.

"In the coming months, we will be structuring volunteer citizen councils in cities and county municipalities to welcome anyone who wants to join this initiative. These councils will be convened early next year to create, as a non-governmental organization, a civil movement for a presidential republic, Yankov said.

"We want to challenge every Bulgarian citizen to think and take a stand on the issue of state governance," he said, adding that the movement will launch a platform, presidentska.bg.

Miroslava Valkova read a speech on behalf of the representatives of the movement, where she stated that personal attacks and constant conflicts between political leaders have taken attention away from the true priorities of the nation.

This vicious practice underscores the need for a cardinal change in Bulgaria's governance, Valkova said, adding that a presidential republic would enable faster and more efficient decision-making, limit dependence on political compromises and create stability. /BTA