The civic movement Third March (Treti Mart) has formally launched procedures to register as a political party, announcing its intentions at a meeting in Nessebar, Bulgaria. The decision was presented by the chairman of the movement, Tihomir Atanasov, who said an initiative committee has already been formed and tasked with preparing a founding congress and completing the legal steps required for party registration. The committee includes representatives from across the country, covering around 22 to 23 regions.

According to Atanasov, the future Third March party openly supports the policies of President Rumen Radev and considers him its informal leader. He stressed that this designation reflects civic and political support rather than a formal or institutional link. The party leadership maintains that Radev represents the only credible alternative to what they describe as a failed governing model. The movement has also declared its ambition to take part in the next parliamentary elections and to play a significant role in the formation of a future government.

At this stage, the organization is funded through membership fees. Atanasov said the movement currently has around 5,000 members nationwide. Nessebar was deliberately chosen as the location for the announcement due to its historical and cultural symbolism. During the event, a founding declaration was officially adopted and read publicly. The document defines March 3 as a core national symbol of freedom and Bulgarian statehood.

The declaration outlines the ideological profile of the new party, which presents itself as a civil community committed to defending Bulgaria’s independence, national identity, and traditions. Its stated core values include sovereignty, the family, Christian principles, national unity, justice, education, and spirituality. Among its main objectives are the revival of national pride, protection of citizens’ dignity, economic development, and policies aimed at supporting Bulgarian families.

Despite the movement’s insistence on its support for President Radev, the initiative comes against the backdrop of his earlier public distancing from Third March and similar projects. In November, Radev sharply criticized groups claiming to act in his name, describing them as fraudsters and stating that only a political formation he personally announces should be considered connected to him. He explicitly said that Third March and other initiatives had no relation to him and accused those invoking his name of serving oligarchic interests.

Commenting on this contradiction, Atanasov declined to engage directly with Radev’s remarks. He reiterated that the movement’s position has not changed, emphasizing that Third March consists of citizens who support the president’s policies and view him as an informal leader, without claiming he has formally endorsed or joined the party.