Members and supporters of the nationalistic Ataka party protested in front of the Central Election Commission against its decision to remove this political party from the United Patriots coalition at the request of the leader of VMRO Krasimir Karakachanov. Ataka party is planning to bring an appeal before the court against the decision of Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission. 

The United Patriots coalition consisting of VMRO, the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria and Ataka was registered in 2016, following an agreement of the three parties to nominate a common Presidential candidate. The coalition was represented by 27 MPs at the 44^th Bulgarian National Assembly, including 8 MPs from Ataka party. The relations between VMRO and Ataka deteriorated in the summer of 2019 and the leader of Ataka Volen Siderov was expelled from the parliamentary group of the United Patriots coalition.