The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament announced the inclusion of Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament, Elena Yoncheva and Taner Kabilov, both representing the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), as allied members. This addition brings the ECR Group’s total membership to 84 Members of the European Parliament, further strengthening its influence and presence within the legislative body.
“We are delighted to welcome Elena Yoncheva and Taner Kabilov to the ECR family. They bring valuable political experience and share our commitment to a Europe that respects its nations, protects its citizens and defends freedom. The continued growth of our Group is an encouraging signal that we will play an even more important role in the future,” said ECR Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini.
“The ECR Group continues to grow because it offers a political home for those who believe Europe needs common sense, respect for national sovereignty and practical solutions. We are pleased to welcome our Bulgarian colleagues and look forward to working closely with them in the years ahead,” added ECR Co-Chairman Patryk Jaki.
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), established in 1990 to advocate for ethnic minorities, is currently navigating significant challenges under the leadership of Delyan Peevski. Peevski, a Bulgarian politician and oligarch, has been subject to sanctions by both the United States and the United Kingdom for corruption. In June 2021, the US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Peevski and associates for public corruption under Executive Order 13818, related to the Global Magnitsky Act. The UK also sanctioned Peevski and other notable Bulgarian figures under the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations.
After Peevski became the leader of DPS in 2024, the party shifted to the far right. The party was a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) since 2001, the Liberal International since 2003, and Renew Europe. However, in December 2024, ALDE announced its intention to expel the DPS due to concerns regarding Peevski’s leadership. In response to this decision, the DPS chose to depart from the alliance and, in April 2025, aligned itself with the European Conservatives, Patriots & Affiliates Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
In May 2025, representatives of the DPS attended the CPAC Hungary 2025 event, a gathering of far-right parties and personalities from the US and Europe sponsored by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. By July 2026, the DPS officially joined the ECR group.
Peevski’s tenure has prompted a notable crisis within the party, leading to a fragmentation of the liberal faction. This faction ultimately formed a new political entity, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (APS), in late 2025. The APS includes Ahmed Dogan a historical figure of the human rights movement in Bulgaria and founder of DPS. It currently has one MEP affiliated with the Renew Group.
