Elections in Bulgaria
After the end of the communist era, general and free elections were held in Bulgaria from 1990 .
Story until the turning point
On April 16, 1879, the first democratic constitution in Veliko Tarnovo ( Constitution of Tarnovo ) was passed. This provided for free elections.
In September 1944, Soviet troops occupied Bulgaria and quickly brought the country under Soviet influence, including the murder of thousands of people, mainly from the country's elite. After the end of World War II, Bulgaria became part of the Eastern Bloc (founding member Comecon and Warsaw Pact ) and a communist one-party state in which only sham elections took place.
On November 18, 1945, this takeover of power was formally legitimized by the "election" of parliament (the "people's assembly"). Shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of Bulgaria , another election took place on October 27, 1946, also on December 18, 1949, December 20, 1953, December 22, 1957, December 1962, February 27, 1966, June 27, 1971, 30. May 1976, June 7, 1981 and June 8, 1986 (the Constitution of May 18, 1971 (Article 6 (2)) extended the electoral term from four to five years).
After the free election on June 17, 1990, the communist era ended.
→ see also History of Bulgaria
Parliamentary election 1990
In the first free election (for the 7th Grand National Assembly on June 10 and 17, 1990) 6,976,620 people were eligible to vote. 6,124,501 people voted, which corresponds to a turnout of 87.79%. 40 parties had registered to vote.
The strongest force was the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP / Block KzB) with 47.15% and 211 parliamentary seats. It was followed in second place by the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS / Block UDF) with 36.21% and 144 seats, the Peasants' Party (BZNS / Block UDF) with 8.03% and 16 seats, the Movement for Law and Freedoms (DPS / Block DPS) with 6.02% and 23 seats. The parliament appointed Shelju Shelev (UDF) as president.
Parliamentary election 1991
In the election for the 36th National Assembly on October 19, 1991, 6,790,006 people were eligible to vote. 5,540,837 people voted, which corresponds to a turnout of 81.60%. 38 parties and 17 independent candidates were registered.
The strongest force was the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS / Block ODS) with 34.36% and 110 seats. It was followed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP / Block KzB) with 33.14% and 106 seats, the Peasant Party (BZNS / Block KzB) with 3.86% and zero seats and the Movement for Law and Freedom (DPS / Block DPS) with 7.55% and 24 seats.
1992 presidential election
Incumbent Schelju Schelew received an absolute majority of the votes in the first direct election of a state president.
Parliamentary election 1994
In the election for the 37th National Assembly on December 18, 1994, 6,997,954 people were eligible to vote. 5,202,065 people voted, which corresponds to a turnout of 74.34%. 48 parties and 8 independent candidates were registered.
The strongest force was the BSP / BANU-Stambolijski / Ecoglasnost alliance (Dem. Linke / Block KzB) with 43.5% and 125 seats. It was followed by the United Democratic Forces (Block ODS) with 24.23% and 69 seats, the People's Union (BANU / Democratic Party Block ODS) with 6.51% and 18 seats, and the Bulgarian Business Block (BBB / Block BBB) with 4 , 73% and 13 seats and the Movement for Law and Freedom (DPS / Block NSU) with 5.44% and 15 seats.
1996 presidential election
After more than six years in office, Schelju Schelew did not run for election because he lacked the political backing of the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS). In the direct election of the president, the Bulgarians who were entitled to vote voted for the SDS candidate Petar Stoyanov , who took office in January 1997.
1997 general election
In the election for the 38th National Assembly on April 19, 1997, 6,900,000 people were eligible to vote. 4,274,654 people voted, which corresponds to a turnout of 70%. 48 parties and 8 independent candidates were registered.
The strongest force was the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS / Block ODS) with 52.26% and 125 seats. It was followed by BSP / BANU-Stambolijski / Ecoglasnost-Allianz (Dem. Linke / Block KzB) with 22.07% and 58 seats, the Alliance for National Rescue (- / Block NSU) with 7.6% and 19 seats, Die Eurolinke (- / BE) with 5.5% and 14 seats, the People's Union (BANU / Democratic Party Block ODS) with -% and 14 seats and the Bulgarian Business Block (BBB / Block BBB) with 4.93% and 12 seats.
Elections 2001
General election
In the election for the 39th National Assembly on June 17, 2001, 6,900,000 people were eligible to vote. 4,568,191 people voted, which corresponds to a turnout of 70%. 40 parties were registered.
The strongest force was the National Movement Simeon II. (NMS II / NMS II) with 42.74% and 120 seats. It was followed by the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS / Block ODS) with 18.18% and 51 seats, BSP / BANU-Stambolijski / Ecoglasnost-Allianz (Dem. Linke / Block KzB) with 17.15% and 48 seats, the movement for Law and Freedom (DPS / Block NSU) with 7.45% and 21 seats and Gergiovden (G-VMRO / -) with 3.63%.
Presidential election
see Georgi Parvanov # President
General election 2005
The parliamentary elections for the 40th National Assembly took place on June 25, 2005. The Conservative government suffered defeat after the BSP became the strongest force again. The SDS also lost a lot after being split up into several smaller parties, which, however, will all be represented in parliament. The majority conditions made for a long and difficult formation of a government after even a coalition with the Movement for Civil Rights and Freedoms DPS (Движение за права и свободи, ДПС) of the ethnic Turks failed to gain an absolute majority. Finally, election winner Sergei Stanischew (BSP) formed a grand coalition with the NDSV and DPS, which had 169 of 240 seats. The essential core of government policy was the continuity and continuation of the cooperation with the EU Commission on the agreed accession.
The public was negative and largely shocked by the spontaneous success of the coalition “Attack” (Bulgarian Атака), which led a nationalist and anti-NATO election campaign and also represented radical positions. The electoral authorities had to allow them to participate in the election, but are investigating several members of the electoral initiative together with the public prosecutor's office on suspicion of promoting ethnic hostilities over the nature of the election campaign.
2006 presidential election
In October 2006 - shortly before joining the European Union - a presidential election took place. In this way, President Georgi Parvanov linked the election campaign and decision-making with government policy, although the president only has a representative role. Although none of the candidates questioned joining the EU , the chairman and candidate of the “ Ataka Party ”, Wolen Siderow , stood out for his rejection of NATO and the demand for more referendums and came in second. Parvanov achieved almost 2/3 of the votes cast, but had to run for the runoff election because of the strict electoral law. A minimum participation of 50% of the electorate, which was not reached, is required for the election of the President . In the runoff election, all government and opposition parties, with the exception of Attaka, stood behind Parvanov and thus contributed to the defeat of Siderov. Parvanov received 73.4% of the vote and was thus confirmed in office.
European elections 2007
Since Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union in 2007 , elections for the 6th European Parliament took place there in 2007. In the rest of the Union they took place in 2004 .
Elections 2009
European elections 2009
The 2009 European elections on June 7th in Bulgaria were won by the GERB party with 24.36%. Other parties and coalitions that surpassed the 6% were: “ Coalition for Bulgaria ” ( Bulgarian Socialist Party , Bulgarian Communist Party , Partija Roma , Dwischenie za Social Humanizam , Agrarian Union Al. Stambolijski , Party Nowa Sora ) with 18.50%; Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) with 14.14%; Ataka party with 11.96%; National Movement for Stability and Progress (NDSW) with 7.96%; Blue coalition with 7.95%. The electoral alliance of the two parties of the same name " Lider - Nowoto Wreme " failed to make it into the European Parliament with 5.70%. The electoral alliance " Napred " ( VMRO-BND , Gergjowden , United People's Party , People's Agricultural Union ) won 2.25%.
The NDSW's electoral success came as a surprise, which they tried to explain with the popularity of the top candidate, European Commissioner Meglena Kunewa .
After the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty , Bulgaria will have 18 MEPs, but until then 17. The GERB party will thus have 5, the “Coalition for Bulgaria” 4, DPS 3, Ataka and NDWS 2 each and the Blue Coalition 1 (+ 1 after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty).
Parliamentary elections 2009
The parliamentary elections took place on July 5, 2009. 252 polling stations were also opened abroad for the parliamentary elections, 123 of them in Turkey. For the first time, 31 of the 240 MPs were elected by majority vote.
Following the announcement of the final election results by the electoral commission, six parties and coalitions are represented in the 41st Narodno Sabranie with a 4% threshold . The turnout was 60.2%, which corresponded to 4,226,194 valid votes. Clear election winner was the party GERB of Boyko Borissov received that almost 40 percent of the vote and could make 26 chosen by majoritarian MPs. The right-wing, anti-communist Blue Coalition (15 seats) is the coalition partner of the GERB party. The party order, security and justice (10 mandates) is also a possible partner of the GERB. Both made the fight against corruption, which is widespread in the country, the main topic in the election campaign.
The second strongest party was the Coalition for Bulgaria (BSP, BKP), led by the party chairman of the Bulgarian Socialists (BSP) and ruling Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev . After the severe defeat, the previously ruling socialists (ex-communists) are represented by only 40 MPs, which is the worst result in their history. Critics of the party leadership from the party name too close a rapprochement with the DPS, which is widely accused of corruption, nepotism and, last but not least, a distance to its own party base as reasons for the result.
The third largest party in parliament remains the Movement for Rights and Freedoms ( DPS ). The “Turkish Party” was able to convince over 600,000 voters and win the five legal mandates awarded by majority vote. Above all, she was able to count on the votes of the Islamic minorities (Turks, Pomaks ), as well as Roma and Sinti in the country. The DPS was able to win more than 100,000 votes from abroad, especially from the Bulgarian-Turkish and Pomak communities living in Turkey. However, she was also accused of manipulating elections in the areas she dominated.
The nationalist Ataka party was represented in parliament with 21 members.
The previously co-governing liberal National Movement for Stability and Progress of ex-Tsar Simeon Sakskoburggotski failed because of the four percent hurdle. As a consequence, Simeon Sakskoburggotski announced his resignation as party leader the day after the election.
| Party / coalition | be right | Percentages | MPs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanning | 1,678,641 | 39.72% | 116 (90 + 26) |
| Coalition for Bulgaria | 748.147 | 17.70% | 40 |
| DPS | 610,521 | 14.45% | 38 (33 + 5) |
| Ataka | 395.733 | 9.36% | 21st |
| Blue coalition | 285,662 | 6.76% | 15th |
| Order, security and justice | 174,582 | 4.13% | 10 |
| total | 4226194 | 240 |
Local elections 2009
In 2009, early local elections were held in some municipalities, including Sofia.
Elections 2011
On October 23, 2011, the presidential and local elections in Bulgaria were held simultaneously. The runoff election for the presidential election took place on October 30, 2011.
Elections 2013
General election 2013
The early election for the 42nd Narodno Sabranie took place on May 12, 2013. The previously partially introduced majority vote (which determined 31 of the 240 MPs in the 2009 election) was abolished in 2012.
The following four participants overcame the threshold of 4%: the three parties GERB , DPS , Ataka and the coalition for Bulgaria .
For the first time, neither the SDS party, which was influential in the 1990s, nor its splits are represented in the Narodno Sabranie .
| Party / coalition | be right | Percentages | +/-% | MPs | +/- seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GERB | 1 081 605 | 30.54% | −9.18 | 97 | −20 |
| Coalition for Bulgaria | 942 541 | 26.61% | +8.95 | 84 | +44 |
| DPS | 400 466 | 11.31% | −3.14 | 36 | −1 |
| Ataka | 258 481 | 7.3% | −2.06 | 23 | +2 |
| Others | 858 652 | 24.24% | - |
Elections 2014
European elections 2014
| Party / electoral alliance | Seats | European party / parliamentary group |
|---|---|---|
| GERB | 5 | European People's Party |
| Coalition for Bulgaria - Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) | 3 | European Social Democratic Party |
| Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) | 3 | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| Coalition of United Democrats (KOD) 4 | 2 | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe / Party of European Socialists (partially) |
| National Front for the Rescue of Bulgaria (NFSB) | 1 | Europe of freedom and democracy |
| Alternative for the Bulgarian Rebirth (ABV) | 1 | none (1 MEP in the S&D parliamentary group) |
| Reformist block 1 | 1 | European People's Party (partially) |
| Blue coalition | 1 | European People's Party |
General election 2014
The Bulgarian parliament, paralyzed because of a party dispute over the increase in the state budget in 2014, was prematurely dissolved in August. After the resignation of the socialist-dominated government, all parties decided not to form a new cabinet.
The early election for the 43rd Narodno Sabranie took place on October 5, 2014.
| Party / coalition | be right | Percentages | +/-% | MPs | +/- seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GERB | 1,072,491 | 32.67% | + 2.13% | 84 | −13 |
| Coalition for Bulgaria | 505,527 | 15.40% | −11.21% | 39 | −45 |
| DPS | 487.134 | 14.84% | + 3.53% | 38 | +2 |
| Reform bloc | 291,806 | 8.89% | + 8.89% | 23 | +23 |
| Patriotic front | 239.101 | 7.28% | + 4.08% | 19th | +19 |
| BBZ | 186,938 | 5.69% | +5.69% | 15th | +15 |
| Ataka | 148.262 | 4.52% | −2.78% | 11 | −12 |
| ABW | 136.223 | 4.15% | + 4.15% | 11 | +11 |
| Others | 433.103 | 6.56% | - |
See also
Web links
- Official website of the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria
- Elections page (Bulgarian News Agency BTA)
- Statistics Office Bulgaria (English)
- The Economist : Bulgaria rejects its government , July 9, 2009
- Bulgaria: Votes bought and voter tourism Die Presse , July 1, 2009
Footnotes
- ^ Politics of Bulgaria
- ↑ full text
- ↑ Results of the effects of the 2001 elections ( Memento of the original from June 22, 2004 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 80 kB)
- ↑ Parliament of Bulgaria
- ↑ Bulgarian domestic policy
- ↑ Final election results (Bulgarian) on Mediapool.bg
- ↑ Final election results (bulg.) ( Memento of the original from June 12, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the Since the Central Election Commission
- ↑ Almost half of the polling stations abroad are opened in Turkey (Bulgarian) on mediapool.bg on June 17th
- ↑ Doert, Doert, Doert. The technology of the Turkish vote in the villages around Karschdali (Bulgarian) Newspaper article on the website of the newspaper Capital , from 10 July 2009
- ↑ http://www.capital.bg/show.php?storyid=757335
- ↑ Central Election Commission ( Memento of the original from February 25, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on July 8, 2009
- ^ "Bulgaria in the election year 2011", analysis of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung from January 2011, accessed on January 27, 2011: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/07789.pdf
- ↑ Central Election Commission on May 12, 2013
- ↑ Central Electoral Commission on October 5, 2014
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