After the divide of UDF in 2004 Nikolov became head of the political section of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB).

In 2017 Nikolov's fourth monograph, The Political Conservatism, came out of print, written in co-authorship with his colleague from NBU Dr. Irena Todorova.

Although he didn't become an MP, his positive performance was awarded a seat on the national committee of the party by the leader Ivan Kostov.

Proshkov won the internal elections in DSB and became the party nominee but subsequently couldn't defeat the sitting mayor.

In 2014 Petar Nikolov founded the Institute for Right-Wing Policy which aimed to promote and facilitate the coalition between GERB and the Reformist Bloc.

After the coalition came into being, Nikolov was appointed parliamentary secretary of the Council of Ministers by PM Boyko Borissov.