Democratic Bulgaria

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.[12]

Democratic Bulgaria
Демократична България
AbbreviationDB
ChairmanHristo Ivanov
Founded12 April 2018 (2018-04-12)
IdeologyLiberal conservatism[1] Conservative liberalism[2]
Liberalism[3][4]
Environmentalism[1]
Anti-corruption[4]
Pro-Europeanism[5]
Political positionCentre[6][7] to centre-right[8][9]
National affiliationPP–DB
European affiliationEPP (DSB only)[10]
EGP (The Greens only)[11]
Colours  Blue   White   Green   Red
National Assembly
26 / 240
European Parliament
1 / 17
Municipalities
10 / 265
Sofia city council
12 / 61
Website
demokrati.bg

History

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.[13][14] 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.[15]

Structure

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.[16]

Composition

Party Abbr. Founded Leader Ideology 2023 result
(As part of PP–DB)
MPs MEPs
Yes, Bulgaria!

Да, България!

DaB! 7 January 2017 (2017-01-07) Hristo Ivanov Liberalism
Anti-corruption
Pro-Europeanism
23.54%
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria

Демократи за силна България

DSB 30 May 2004 (2004-05-30) Atanas Atanasov Liberal Conservatism
Pro-Europeanism
Anti-communism
Green Movement

Зелено движение

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

Political positions

Finance

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.[17]

Defense

In the sphere of defense, the party seeks public support of the Armed Forces using the Social contract of defensive politics.[18]

Presidential endorsement

For the 2021 Bulgarian presidential election, DB supported the election bid of Lozan Panov, the chairman of the Bulgarian supreme court.[19]

Election results

2019 European Parliament election

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.[20] All members of Yes, Bulgaria! had the right to participate, together with everyone who received an invitation from a current party member.[20] 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.[21]

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.[22] Malinov has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2009 as a member of the European People's Party.[22]

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.[23]

Democratic Bulgaria eventually won one seat in the 2019 European Parliament election, which went to DSB member Radan Kanev.[24][25]

2019 Local elections

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.[26] 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.[27]

Electoral history

National Assembly

Election Votes  % Seats +/– Government
Apr 2021 302,280 9.45 (#5)
27 / 240
New 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
2022 186,511 7.45 (#6)
20 / 240
Increase 4 Snap election
2023[lower-alpha 1] 621,069 22.54 (#2)
26 / 240
Increase 6 Coalition
  1. Formally merged into the PP–DB coalition.

European Parliament

Election Votes  % Seats +/–
2019 118,484 6.06 (#5)
1 / 17

References

  1. Wolfram Nordsieck. "Bulgaria". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  2. "Bulgaria's new government can get to work". Eurotopics. 16 December 2021.
  3. Wölfl, Adelheid (12 June 2022). "Bulgarische Regierung verliert Mehrheit im Parlament". Der Standard.
  4. "Knapper Vorsprung für Anti-Korruptions-Partei". Tagesschau. 14 November 2021.
  5. Milcheva, Emiliya; Nikolov, Krasen (February 21, 2022). "Bau von russischem Atomkraftwerk spaltet Bulgarien". Euractiv via www.euractiv.de.
  6. Dimitrov, Martin (4 November 2019). "Bulgaria Ruling Party Retakes Capital in Local Elections". Balkan Insight.
  7. Cholakov, Petar (14 July 2020). "Political crisis in Bulgaria sparks protests and outrage | DW | 14.07.2020". Deutsche Welle.
  8. Petkova, Mariya (12 July 2020). "Bulgaria rocked by protests amid coronavirus fears". Al Jazeera.
  9. Dimitrov, Martin (20 August 2020). "How a bizarre beach plot landed Bulgaria's longtime PM in hot water". The Guardian.
  10. "EPP - European People's Party".
  11. "Member Parties".
  12. Ангелов, Георги А. (April 12, 2018). "ДСБ, "Да, България" и "Зелените" учредяват обединение "Демократична България"". Dnevnik.
  13. ""Демократична България" пое на битка срещу корупицонния модел на ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС". Mediapool.bg. 12 April 2018.
  14. ""Демократична България" срещу "корупционния модел на ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС" (ВИДЕО)". 12 April 2018.
  15. "Демократична България може много повече | Демократична България".
  16. "ДСБ, "Да, България" и "Зелените" се обединяват в съюз "Демократична България"". www.capital.bg. 10 April 2018.
  17. "Финанси | Демократична България".
  18. "Отбрана | Демократична България".
  19. "Democratic Bulgaria supports Lozan Panov for president". bnr.bg. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  20. "Вътрешни избори: често задавани въпроси". Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  21. "Стефан Тафров спечели вътрешните избори на "Да, България" за евродепутати". www.capital.bg. 11 February 2019.
  22. "ДСБ издига Светослав Малинов като водещ кандидат за изборите за ЕП - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини". news.bnt.bg.
  23. "Албена Симеонова и Росен Богомилов са водещите кандидати на Зелените за евроизборите". February 22, 2019.
  24. "Радан Кънев е евродепутатът на "Демократична България" - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини". news.bnt.bg.
  25. "Няма разместване в листата, Радан Кънев е евродепутатът на "Демократична България"". nova.bg.
  26. Христова, Михаил Стоянов, Анна (November 4, 2019). ""Демократична България" ще има кметове в 8 столични района, ГЕРБ - в 12". Dnevnik.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. "Изненада при районните кметове в София след окончателните резултати". Vesti.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-11-04.
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