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Bulgaria
At stake: National Assembly
Background
During World War II, Bulgaria was occupied by Nazi Germany until the invasion of the Soviet army in 1944. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished and the country later adopted a new constitution which nationalized several industries and established a communist one-party state.
In 1954, Todor Zhivkov took over as secretary-general of the Communist Party, and Bulgaria developed closer ties with the Soviet Union. In 1968, Bulgarian troops actively participated in the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.
The Soviet Union gradually lost influence in Bulgarian life and politics. In 1991, Bulgaria held multi-party elections for the first time.
In the 1990s, the country faced a widespread economic crisis. Bulgaria saw five different governments in seven years, formed by the Communists—now reassembled as the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)—and the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS). In 1997, SDS leader Ivan Kostov took over as prime minister, and the Bulgarian currency was pegged to the German mark.
In the June 2001 parliamentary ballot, the National Movement Simeon II (NDSV) became the most popular political organization in the country, and formed a coalition government with the Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS). Simeon Sakskoburggotski (also spelled as Simeon of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) took over as prime minister in July 2001.
Born in 1937, Sakskoburggotski was Bulgaria’s last monarch as a child in the 1940s, eventually fleeing to Egypt and Spain. He returned to Bulgaria in 2001. Sakskoburggotski implemented a series of financial measures aimed at bringing Bulgaria closer to the European Union (EU). Corruption and discrimination against the Roma minority were still prevalent problems in the country.
In 2003, Sakskoburggotski’s government provided 450 soldiers to the United States-led coalition effort in Iraq. The troops were to serve under Polish command as part of a peacekeeping force.
In March 2004, Bulgaria officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In December, the European Union (EU) announced that the accession treaty with Bulgaria and Romania would be finalized in April 2005.
In June 2005, Bulgarian voters renewed the National Assembly. The Coalition for Bulgaria (KzB)—which included the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)—secured 82 seats, followed by the National Movement Simeon II (NDSV) with 53 lawmakers. In August, the two main parties, along with the Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), agreed to set-up a coalition administration with Socialist leader Sergey Stanishev as prime minister.
Click here for 2005 Bulgaria National Assembly Tracker
In April 2005, the European Parliament approved the entry of Bulgaria and Romania into the EU in 2007, but warned that both countries still needed to enact reforms, eradicate corruption and fight organized crime.
In 2006, Sofia mayor Boyko Borissov assembled a centre-right, pro-European party called Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB). The party has since fared well in voting-intention surveys.
In October 2006, the BSP’s Georgi Parvanov was re-elected president in a run-off ballot against Volen Siderov of the nationalist Ataka (Attack) party.
The president is regarded as a ceremonial dignitary in Bulgaria, but serves as the commander in chief of the armed forces and has the power to return a bill to the National Assembly for further debate. The president’s veto can be overturned with a majority vote.
Click here for Bulgaria’s 2006 Presidential Election Tracker
Bulgaria, now a nation of 7.2 million, joined the EU in January 2007. Despite its steady economic growth, at around six per cent over the past few years, the country remains one of the poorest in the EU.
In October 2007, GERB leader Borissov was re-elected by a wide margin as mayor of Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city.
In July 2008, the European commission suspended part of its aid payments to Bulgaria based on allegations of corruption and the use of funds by organized crime. Bulgaria also was criticized by EU officials throughout the year for its "slowing drive" to introduce further economic and social reforms after it joined the continental group.
The scandal surrounding the mismanagement of EU funds prompted Borissov to call for early elections and the appointment of an interim government. Stanishev refused to step down.
In late July 2008, Stanishev’s government survived a no-confidence motion backed by GERB.
In November 2008, Olaf Franz-Hermann Bruenner, Director of the European Anti-Fraud Office, said that fraudulent use of EU funds by Bulgaria had cost the EU budget close to $136 million U.S.
2009 National Assembly Election
A legislative election is scheduled for Jun. 14. The ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) is seeking to amend electoral laws in order to increase public funding for political parties, and to allow for the direct election of at least 30 of the 240 members of the legislature. Under existing guidelines, all seats are allocated by proportional representation with a four per cent threshold.
BSP leader Sergey Stanishev has served as Bulgaria’s head of government since 2005. He heads a coalition that includes the BSP, the National Movement for Stability and Progress (NDSV)—previously known as the National Movement Simeon II—and the Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).
A December 2008 voting intention poll by Alpha Research placed the opposition Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) in first place.
The relationship between Bulgaria’s government and the European Union (EU) was strained throughout 2008 for the alleged mismanagement of EU assistance funds by the country’s government. In November, Stanishev criticized the EU for failing to free a frozen aid fund and accused it of treating Bulgaria "unfairly."
European Commission president Jose Manuel Durao Barroso responded to the claims, saying that Bulgaria "is treated like every other member state," and adding, "We will not allow people to play politics with EU funds."
On Dec. 21, Volen Siderov, leader of the ultra-nationalist Ataka party ruled out any cooperation with GERB, saying, "If GERB want [Bulgaria] to be an oriental country where every day a new mosque is built, we will not govern with them. If GERB want [Bulgaria] to be a Latin American country with five per cent rich people and 90 per cent poor people, we will not govern with them."
On Feb. 17, 2009, Wilfred Martens, president of the European People’s Party (EPP)—the party with the largest number of lawmakers in the European Parliament—discussed the election, saying, “We hope that Boyko Borissov and his GERB will establish a new right-to-center government model in Bulgaria.”
On Apr. 28, Bulgarian president Parvanov said the legislative election will now take place on Jul. 5, following amendments to electoral laws.
Unitl now, all Bulgarian lawmakers were elected by proportional representation. In this year’s election, 31 lawmakers will be chosen directly from set constituencies, and the remaining 209 will be elected from party lists on a proportional basis. Coalitions of two or more parties will now need to win at least eight per cent of the popular vote in order to get seats.
On Apr. 30, GERB’s economics adviser Stoyan Mavrodiev commented on a billionaire loan the government will receive from Russia to fund infrastructure projects, saying, "In the conditions of a heavy financial and economic crisis, the taking of long term loans is harmful and may be a long term negative for the economy, because it creates heavy macro-economic imbalance and burdens generations of Bulgarians with some serious debt.”
On May 4, Plamen Yurukov was suspended as leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) after he signed his party up to run by itself in the election. The party’s leadership had decided a long time ago that the UDF would enter a coalition with the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB). Martin Dimitrov became the new UDF leader.
On Jul. 2, Stanishev expressed disappointment with the tone of the campaign, saying, “The opposition has failed to present ideas on how to rule the country and has also displayed ignorance about how to achieve good results. (...) People should know that Borissov cannot rule without [DSB leader Ivan] Kostov and that by voting for GERB people will bring Kostov back to power.”
Voting took place on Jul. 5. Preliminary results gave the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) a clear victory with almost 40 per cent of the vote. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) was a distant second, with about 18 per cent.
Borissov declared: "We have to form a government as soon as possible. (...) Those who stole must be afraid."
On Jul. 6, Borissov said referring to the outgoing government: “Taking into account the inheritance we get, I can’t promise miracles in the next five or six months. We must see the final results first.”
Stanishev conceded defeat at a press conference, adding, “The economic crisis is one of the explanations. The accusation of a poor inheritance is unjustified. We leave the country’s finances in a much better shape than many other countries in Europe.”
On Jul. 7, final results were released. GERB got 39.7 per cent of the vote, while the Socialists were a distant second with 17.7 per cent. The Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) came third with 14.46 per cent. Turnout was tabled at 60.2 per cent.
GERB secured 116 seats in the 240-strong chamber, and 26 of the 31 direct, so-called majoritarian votes.
On Jul. 15, GERB floor leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov said GERB will form an independent government—thus not inviting any other party to form a coalition—in order to honour the will of the voters.
A group of conservative parties known as the Blue Coalition said that GERB can count on their support regardless. Co-chairman Ivan Kostov said that, “With or without a memorandum, the majority will receive the support of the Blue Coalition.”
On Jul. 27, Borissov was sworn in as prime minister. His cabinet features finance minister Simeon Djankov, defence minister Nikolay Mladenov, foreign minister Rumiana Jeleva, and interior minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov.
Political Players
President: Georgi Parvanov - BSP
Prime minister: Boyko Borissov - GERB
The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.
Legislative Branch: The Narodno Sabranie (National Assembly) has 240 members, elected to four-year terms through a hybrid system; 209 members are elected by proportional representation with a national threshold of four per cent, and 31 members are elected on a constituency basis through the single member plurality or first-past-the-post system.
Results of Last Election:
President - Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, 2006 (*)
|
|
Oct. 22 |
Oct. 29 |
|
Georgi Parvanov |
64.04% |
75.95% |
|
Volen Siderov |
21.48% |
24.05% |
|
Nedelcho Beronov |
9.75% |
-- |
|
Georgi Markov |
2.71% |
-- |
|
Petar Beron |
0.78% |
-- |
|
Grigor Velev |
0.71% |
-- |
|
Lyuben Petrov |
0.49% |
-- |
(*) Overall voter turnout for the first round was lower than 45 per cent, so a run-off was required.
National Assembly - Jul. 5, 2009
|
Prop. Vote |
Prop. Seats |
Const. Seats |
Total Seats |
|
|
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) |
39.72% |
90 |
26 |
116 |
|
Coalition for Bulgaria (KzB) |
17.70% |
40 |
-- |
40 |
|
Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) |
14.45% |
33 |
5 |
38 |
|
Ataka (Attack) |
9.36% |
21 |
-- |
21 |
|
Blue Coalition (SK) |
6.76% |
15 |
-- |
15 |
|
Order, Law and Justice (RZS) |
4.13% |
10 |
-- |
10 |
|
Lider / New Time (NV) |
3.26% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
National Movement for Stability and Progress (NDSV) |
3.02% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
The Greens |
0.52% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
For the Homeland |
0.27% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Bulgarian Left Coalition |
0.21% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Union of the Patriotic Forces "Defense" |
0.15% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Social Democrats |
0.12% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Bulgarian National Union - New Democracy |
0.09% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
The Other Bulgaria |
0.08% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Party of the Liberal Alternative and Peace |
0.07% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Union of the Bulgarian Patriots |
0.05% |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
National Movement for the Salvation of the Fatherland |
0.04% |
-- |
-- |
-- |