Democratic Bulgaria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Democratic Bulgaria
Демократична България
AbbreviationDB
ChairmanAtanas Atanasov
Founded12 April 2018; 4 years ago (2018-04-12)
IdeologyLiberal conservatism[1] Environmentalism[1]
Liberalism[2][3]
Anti-corruption[3]
Pro-Europeanism[4]
Political positionCentre[5][6] to
centre-right[7][8]
European affiliationEuropean People's Party (DSB only)[9]
European Green Party (The Greens only)[10]
Colours  Blue
Bulgarian national colours:
  White
  Green
  Red
National Assembly
16 / 240
European Parliament
1 / 17
Municipalities
10 / 265
Sofia city council
12 / 61
Website
demokrati.bg

Democratic Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Демократична България, ДБ, Demokratichna Balgariya, DB) is an electoral alliance in Bulgaria formed by three political parties – Yes, Bulgaria!, Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria and The Greens. The union was created on 12 April 2018.[11]

History[edit]

The creation of Democratic Bulgaria was officially announced through the symbolic signing of a declaration entitled "A Democratic Bulgaria Can Do More". The three parties united after several months of talks on cooperation during the next general election.[12][13] In its manifesto, the union set out its main goals, including to be an alternative to the current government and to consolidate Bulgaria's democratic values and Euro-Atlantic choices.[14]

Structure[edit]

The Democratic Bulgaria structure has two co-leaders – Hristo Ivanov of Yes, Bulgaria! and Atanas Atanasov of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria. The leaders of The Greens – Vladislav Panev and Borislav Sandov – also participate in the union's council.[15]

Composition[edit]

Party Abbr. Founded Leader Ideology November 2021 percentage result MPs MEPs
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria

Демократи за силна България

DSB 30 May 2004 (2004-05-30) Atanas Atanasov Conservatism
Pro-Europeanism
Anti-communism
6.37
Yes, Bulgaria!

Да, България!

DaB! 7 January 2017 (2017-01-07) Hristo Ivanov Anti-corruption
Pro-Europeanism
Liberalism
Syncretic politics
Green Movement

Зелено движение

ZD 18 May 2008 (2008-05-18) Borislav Sandov
Vladislav Panev
Green liberalism
Pro-Europeanism

Political positions[edit]

Finance[edit]

Some of DB's priorities are Bulgaria's Eurozone and Banking union membership, a reduction of budget spending to 1/3 of the GDP, as well as taxation reform, with a reduction of VAT from 20% to 18% and a non-taxable minimum of the income tax.[16]

Defense[edit]

In the sphere of defense, the party seeks public support of the Armed Forces using the Social contract of defensive politics.[17]

Presidential endorsement[edit]

For the 2021 Bulgarian presidential election, DB supports the election bid of Lozan Panov, the chairman of the Bulgarian supreme court.[18]

Election results[edit]

2019 European Parliament election[edit]

In order to select its candidates, Yes, Bulgaria! conducted a remote preliminary election. Those willing to vote could do it digitally using the mobile app of Yes, Bulgaria! or by mail.[19] All members of Yes, Bulgaria! had the right to participate, together with everyone who received an invitation from a current party member.[19] The electoral process began on 27 November 2018, and the final results were declared on 11 February 2019. A total of 5898 people voted, and the candidate with the most votes was Stefan Tafrov, a diplomat and former ambassador.[20]

The candidate of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria for the European elections Svetoslav Malinov was selected through a resolution during the party's National Congress on 12 November 2018.[21] Malinov has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2009 as a member of the European People's Party.[21]

On February 22, 2019, The Greens announced their primary candidate for the elections – Albena Simeonova – an environmentalist and entrepreneur in the sphere of bio agriculture. She was elected through an online vote on the website of the party.[22]

Democratic Bulgaria eventually won one seat in the 2019 European Parliament election, which went to DSB member Radan Kanev.[23][24]

2019 Local elections[edit]

Local elections were held across Bulgaria on 27 October 2019, with Democratic Bulgaria failing to win a single mayoral contest, but far exceeding expectations in the capital Sofia, where they won 8 out of 25 districts, including most of the city center.[25] The results were seen as a serious setback for the ruling party GERB, which had until then maintained a strong hold on the capital, winning 23 out of 25 districts in 2015.[26]

Statistics[edit]

National Assembly
Election Votes % Seats +/– Government
Apr 2021 302,280 9.45 (#5)
27 / 240
Snap election
Jul 2021 345,331 12.64 (#4)
34 / 240
Increase 7 Snap election
Nov 2021 166,966 6.37 (#6)
16 / 240
Decrease 18 Coalition
European Parliament
Election Votes % Seats +/–
2019 118,484 6.06 (#5)
1 / 17

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Wolfram Nordsieck. "Bulgaria". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  2. ^ Wölfl, Adelheid (12 June 2022). "Bulgarische Regierung verliert Mehrheit im Parlament". Der Standard.
  3. ^ a b "Knapper Vorsprung für Anti-Korruptions-Partei". Tagesschau. 14 November 2021.
  4. ^ Milcheva, Emiliya; Nikolov, Krasen (February 21, 2022). "Bau von russischem Atomkraftwerk spaltet Bulgarien". Euractiv – via www.euractiv.de.
  5. ^ Dimitrov, Martin (4 November 2019). "Bulgaria Ruling Party Retakes Capital in Local Elections". Balkan Insight.
  6. ^ Cholakov, Petar (14 July 2020). "Political crisis in Bulgaria sparks protests and outrage | DW | 14.07.2020". Deutsche Welle.
  7. ^ Petkova, Mariya (12 July 2020). "Bulgaria rocked by protests amid coronavirus fears". Al Jazeera.
  8. ^ Dimitrov, Martin (20 August 2020). "How a bizarre beach plot landed Bulgaria's longtime PM in hot water". The Guardian.
  9. ^ "EPP - European People's Party".
  10. ^ "Member Parties".
  11. ^ Ангелов, Георги А. (April 12, 2018). "ДСБ, "Да, България" и "Зелените" учредяват обединение "Демократична България"". Dnevnik.
  12. ^ ""Демократична България" пое на битка срещу корупицонния модел на ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС". Mediapool.bg.
  13. ^ ""Демократична България" срещу "корупционния модел на ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС" (ВИДЕО)". 12 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Демократична България може много повече | Демократична България".
  15. ^ "ДСБ, "Да, България" и "Зелените" се обединяват в съюз "Демократична България"". www.capital.bg.
  16. ^ "Финанси | Демократична България".
  17. ^ "Отбрана | Демократична България".
  18. ^ "Democratic Bulgaria supports Lozan Panov for president". bnr.bg. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  19. ^ a b "Вътрешни избори: често задавани въпроси".
  20. ^ "Стефан Тафров спечели вътрешните избори на "Да, България" за евродепутати". www.capital.bg.
  21. ^ a b "ДСБ издига Светослав Малинов като водещ кандидат за изборите за ЕП - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини". news.bnt.bg.
  22. ^ "Албена Симеонова и Росен Богомилов са водещите кандидати на Зелените за евроизборите". February 22, 2019.
  23. ^ "Радан Кънев е евродепутатът на "Демократична България" - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини". news.bnt.bg.
  24. ^ "Няма разместване в листата, Радан Кънев е евродепутатът на "Демократична България"". nova.bg.
  25. ^ Христова, Михаил Стоянов, Анна (November 4, 2019). ""Демократична България" ще има кметове в 8 столични района, ГЕРБ - в 12". Dnevnik.
  26. ^ "Изненада при районните кметове в София след окончателните резултати". Vesti.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-11-04.