Elections in Bulgaria

After the end of the communist era general and free elections were held in Bulgaria since 1990.

History until the turn

After the end of World War II Bulgaria fell under Soviet influence, became part of the Warsaw Pact and eventually became a communist one-party state in which the election was limited to confirmation of a single party.

On 18 November 1945, this takeover was formally by the "choice" of the Parliament (the " People's Assembly " ) legitimized. To select only stood the Fatherland Front, which accordingly received 88.2 % of votes. The opposition parties and Democratic parties were not allowed to vote. With a turnout of 85.6 % 11.8% of the electorate voted against the unit list.

The end of the communist era was in 1990 with free elections. Since then, after each election new political and economic reforms have been pursued.

Parliament elections in 1990

In the first free elections to the 7th Grand National Assembly on 10 and 17 June 1990 6.97662 million people were eligible to vote. There were 6,124,501 people to vote, representing a turnout of 87.79 %. Forty parties had registered to vote.

Strongest force was the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP / block STOs ) with 47,15 % and 211 parliamentary seats. She was followed in second place, 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 Rights and Freedoms ( DPS / block DPS ) with 6.02% and 23 seats.

Parliamentary elections in 1991

In the elections to the 36th National Assembly on October 19, 1991 6,790,006 people were eligible to vote. There were 5,540,837 people to vote, representing a turnout of 81.60 %. There were 38 registered political parties and 17 independent candidates.

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 STOs ) 33.14 % and 106 seats, Peasant Party ( BZNS / block STOs ) and 3.86% - seats, Movement for Rights and Freedom ( DPS / block DPS ) 7.55% and 24 seats.

Parliamentary elections of 1994

In the elections to the 37th National Assembly on December 18, 1994 6,997,954 people were eligible to vote. There were 5,202,065 people to vote, representing a turnout of 74.34 %. There were 48 registered political parties and independent candidates 8.

Strongest force was the GNP / BANU - Stambolijski / Ecoglasnost Alliance (Dem. Left / block STOs ) with 43.5 % and 125 seats. She was followed by United Democratic Forces ( ODS block ) with 24.23 % and 69 seats, the People's Union ( BANU / Democratic Party Block ODS) 6.51% and 18 seats, Bulgarian Business Block (BBB / BBB block ) and 4.73% 13 seats, movement for Rights and Freedom ( DPS / block NSU ) 5.44% and 15 seats.

1997 parliamentary elections

In the elections for the 38th National Assembly on April 19, 1997 6,900,000 people were eligible to vote. There were 4,274,654 people to vote, representing a turnout of 70%. There were 48 registered political parties and independent candidates 8.

Strongest force was the Union of Democratic Forces ( SDS / block ODS) with 52.26 % and 125 seats. She was followed by BSP / BANU - Stambolijski / Ecoglasnost Alliance (Dem. Left / block STOs ) with 22.07 % and 58 seats, Alliance for National Salvation (- / block NSU ) 7.6% and 19 seats, the Euro Left ( - / BE ) 5.5% and 14 seats, the people's Union ( BANU / Democratic Party block ODS) - % and 14 seats, Bulgarian Business block (BBB / BBB block ) 4.93% and 12 seats.

2001 parliamentary elections

In the elections to the 39th National Assembly on June 17, 2001 6,900,000 people were eligible to vote. There were 4,568,191 people to vote, representing a turnout of 70%. There were 40 parties registered.

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 Alliance (Dem. Left / block STOs ) with 17.15% and 48 seats, Movement for Rights and freedom ( DPS / block NSU ) 7.45% and 21 seats, Gergiovden (G- VMRO / -) 3.63%.

2005 parliamentary elections

The elections for the 40th National Assembly were held on 25 June 2005. The Conservative government was defeated after the BSP again strongest force was. The SDS also lost sensitive after a fragmentation into several smaller parties that will be, however, all represented in Parliament. The majorities ensured a long and difficult to form a government after itself a coalition with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS Движение за права и свободи, ДПС ) ethnic Turks, who missed an absolute majority. Finally, election winner Sergei Stanishev (BSP ) formed a grand coalition with NMSS and DPS, which has 169 of 240 seats. The essential core of government policy is the continuity and continuation of cooperation with the EU Commission decided on accession.

Negative and mostly shocked showed the public about the immediate success of the coalition " attack" ( Bulg Aтaкa ), which led a nationalist and anti-NATO campaign and otherwise took radical positions. The Election Commission had to allow this to take part in the election, but results together with the prosecution because of the nature of the election campaign investigations against several members of the electoral initiative for the alleged suspicion of promotion of ethnic hostilities.

2006 presidential elections

In October 2006 - just before the accession to the European Union - Presidential elections were held. This linked President Georgi Parvanov election and decision-making with the government policy, although the President plays only a representative role. Although none of the candidates presented to EU accession in question, however, drew the chairman and candidate of " Ataka ", Volen Siderov, by rejecting NATO and the demand for more public decisions and took second place. Parvanov has reached nearly 2/3 of the votes cast, but had to compete for the ballot because of the strict suffrage. Required is a minimum participation of 50 % of the electorate that has not been achieved in the Head of State. In the runoff, all government and opposition parties contested, with the exception of Attaka behind Parvanov and thus contributed to the defeat Siderows. Among the two strongest candidates Parvanov was confirmed without participation quorum with 73.4 % of votes.

European elections 2007

As Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union in 2007, there were the European elections held for the sixth European parliament in 2007. In the rest of the Union, they were held in 2004.

2009 European elections

The 2009 European elections on June 7 were obtained in Bulgaria from the GERB party with 24.36%. Other parties and coalitions that are have the 6 % overcome: " Coalition for Bulgaria " (. Bulgarian Socialist Party, Bulgarian Communist Party, Partija Roma, Dwischenie za social Humanizam, Agrarunion Al Stambolijski, party Nowa Sora ) with 18.50%; Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF ) with 14.14%; Ataka party with 11.96%; National Movement for Stability and Progress ( NMSS ) with 7.96 %; Blue Coalition with 7.95 %. The electoral alliance between the two parties of the same name " Lider- Nowoto Wreme " failed with 5.70 % the entry into the European Parliament. The electoral alliance " Napred " ( VMRO- BND, Gergjowden, United People's Party, People's Agricultural Union) won 2.25%.

The surprise came the electoral success of NDSW what you're trying to explain the popularity of those top candidate, the European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva.

Following the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty Bulgaria is over 18 MEPs have, but until then 17th The party GERB is thus 5, the " Coalition for Bulgaria " 4, 3 DPS, Ataka and NDWS 2 each and the Blue Coalition 1 ( 1 after the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon).

2009 parliamentary elections

The parliamentary elections were held on July 5, 2009. For the parliamentary elections and 252 polling stations were opened abroad, 123 of them in Turkey. For the first time 31 of the 240 members were elected according to the principle of majority voting.

After the announcement of the final election results by the Electoral Commission % six games and coalitions in the 41st Narodno Sabranie are represented at a minimum threshold of 4. The turnout was 60.2 %, which corresponded to 4,226,194 valid votes. Significant election winner was the GERB party of Boyko Borissov, who received nearly 40 percent of the votes and could provide 26 selected by a majority vote of the deputies. As a coalition partner of the GERB party is right-wing, anti-Communist Blue Coalition ( 15 seats ). The party order, security and justice ( 10 seats ) is a potential partner of GERB. Both had made ​​the fight against widespread corruption in the country as the main theme in the election campaign.

Second with 17.70 %, the Coalition for Bulgaria (BSP, BKP ), led by party chairman of the Bulgarian Socialists (BSP ) and Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev ruling. After the heavy defeat the hitherto ruling Socialist Party ( ex-communists ) are then represented with only 40 deputies, which is the worst result in its history. Critics of the party leadership of the party to call a great approach to the DPS, which is accused of corruption in large dimensions, nepotism and last but not least a distance to his own party base, cited as reasons for the result.

The third strongest party in parliament remains the Movement for Rights and Freedoms ( DPS ). The "Turkish party" could convince over 600,000 voters and win the legal five awarded by majority vote mandates for themselves. Above all, they could count on the votes of Muslim minorities (Turks, Pomaks ) and Roma and Sinti are in the country. The DPS was able to gain more than 100,000 votes from abroad for themselves, especially those living in Turkey, Bulgaria and Turkey and Pomaks community. However, her also election manipulation in the areas under its domination was accused.

The nationalist Ataka party was represented in Parliament by 21 MPs.

The previously co-governing liberal National Movement for Stability and Progress of the ex- Tsar Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha failed due to the four- percent threshold. As a consequence, Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha declared the day after the election his resignation as party leader.

2009 municipal elections

2009 took place early local elections in some municipalities, including Sofia.

On 23 October 2011, presidential and local elections in Bulgaria were conducted in 2011 at the same time. The ballot for the presidential election was held on 30 October 2011.

2013 parliamentary elections

The early elections for the 42nd Narodno Sabranie took place on 12 May 2013. The formerly partially introduced majority voting (which had determined at the election in 2009 31 of the 240 members ) was abolished in 2012.

The four participants overcame the restrictive clause of 4%: the three parties GERB, DPS, Ataka and the Coalition for Bulgaria.

For the first time the influential party in the 1990s SDS are in Narodno Sabranie nor represent their spin-offs.

Next elections

  • 2014: European elections
320956
de