Before the first round of municipal elections on October 28, the organisation Da Spasim Irakli (Let’s Save Irakli, DSI) issued a media statement called Mimicry. With it, the group and the other similar movements that have initiated and supported the “spontaneous, independent and civil” nature-protecting actions during the past two years said that they were surprised that the newly formed political party Green Bulgaria (GB) had announced during its pre-election campaign that “we are the people from Irakli, Rila and Strandja – vote for us” and “we organise the protests for Irakli, Rila and Strandja”. DSI said that  it was categorically separating itself from Green Bulgaria. DSI further said that political parties had never supported their protests in any way. The group said that GB did not support them in anything, either, and had never even tried to contact the group.

Furthermore, DSI sited various publications proving that many of the candidates for mayors in small mountainous or other towns actually were big businessmen with grey economy connections and unclear deeds.

“Clearly from here arises the question as to where the real ecologists-experts in this party are, who would there be to define the base of its platform, its aims and direction, and who would be the leaders,” DSI said. “Instead of them we see businessmen.”

DSI had the impression that neither this party nor its members had ever initiated or taken part in nature-protecting campaigns. “Apparently, their 600 (pre-election) advertising billboards throughout the country show a big financial capacity,” the statement said. “However, there are none for Irakli, Rila, Strandja, Natura 2000…”

The people and environmentalists who organise the street initiatives are also in the process of forming a new political party, called Zelenite (The Greens). The campaigns To Sustain the Nature in Bulgaria and Da Spasim Irakli were started by people from Zelenite. As well, they support the European Greens’ campaign Stop Climate Change, Play Your Part.

The third active environmental party in Bulgaria is the Green Party, which has existed since 1989. It is a member of the European Greens. Its young members also take part in street protests and civil initiatives for the protection of Bulgarian nature.

The last governmental eco-movement is the political club Ekoglasnost (Eco Publicity), established in 1990. Some of its members are among the founders of the Union of Democratic Forces and the Green Party.

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