[3] After DSB could not make the 4% bar for entry into Parliament during the 2017 elections, Kanev resigned as a leader of the party.

[5] Subsequently, Kanev built a reputation as a strong critic of Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

[6] He blames the issues on the Borisov-Peevski model of governance, which has "dominated Bulgarian politics in the past ten years.

[8] In 2022, after the fall of Kiril Petkov's government, Kanev called for unity regarding Bulgaria's foreign policy despite political differences.

Despite being placed fifth on the PP-DB coalition list, which only won three seats, Kanev was able to receive more preference votes than candidates placed above him.