United Patriots
The United Patriots (OP; Bulgarian: Обединени Патриоти; ОП, romanized: Obedineni Patrioti; OP) was a nationalist electoral alliance in Bulgaria formed by three political parties: VMRO, Attack (until 25 July 2019), and the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria (NFSB).
United Patriots Обединени Патриоти | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | OP |
| Spokesperson | Krasimir Karakachanov Valeri Simeonov |
| Founded | 28 July 2016 |
| Dissolved | 5 February 2021[1] |
| Preceded by | Patriotic Front |
| Succeeded by | Patriotic Coalition Volya–NFSB Bulgarian Patriots[2] |
| Headquarters | Sofia |
| Ideology | Bulgarian nationalism National conservatism Social conservatism Right-wing populism Protectionism Soft Euroscepticism Anti-communism |
| Political position | Right-wing to far-right[3][4] |
| Religion | Bulgarian Orthodox Church |
| European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists |
| Member parties | VMRO NFSB Attack (until 25 July 2019) |
| Colours | White, Green, Red (Bulgarian national colours) |
| Website | |
| obedinenipatrioti.com | |
The coalition between the three parties was created by the agreement put forward a joint candidacy for the 2016 presidential election. The coalition's candidates for president and vice president were the then Deputy Chairmen of the National Assembly Krasimir Karakachanov (for President) and Yavor Notev (for Vice President).[5]
On July 25, 2019, Volen Siderov, Desislav Chukolov and Pavel Shopov were expelled from the parliamentary group.
The coalition was part of the Third Borisov Government. All parties in the coalition were defeated in the 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election and failed to gain any seats in the National Assembly.
Electoral history
| Election | # of total votes (1st round) | % of popular vote (1st round) | rank (1st round) | # of total votes (2nd round) | % of popular vote (2nd round) | rank (2nd round) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 573,016 | 14.97 | 3rd | - | - | - |
| Election | # of seats won | # of total votes | % of popular vote | rank | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 27 / 240 |
318,513 | 9.07 | 3rd |
GERB-OP |
See also
- Patriotic Front (Bulgaria) Nationalist electoral alliance (2016–2017)
References
- "Коалиция "Обединени патриоти" прекрати съществуването си".
- "Ultra-nationalists, populists form 'Bulgarian Patriots' alliance for July elections". 20 May 2021.
- "EU country briefing: Bulgaria". EURACTIV. 18 April 2019.
Since May 2017, GERB governs together with a coalition of far-right nationalist parties (United Patriots).
- "Bulgaria's Parliament gives final approval to cutting state subsidies for political parties". Independent Balkan News Agency. 4 July 2019.
Within the ruling majority – the coalition between GERB and the far-right United Patriots – two parties from the latter formation voted against the amendments: Valeri Simeonov's National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria and Deputy Prime Minister Krassimir Karakachanov's VMRO. The third of the United Patriots' parties, Volen Siderov's Ataka, voted in favour.
- "Каракачанов и Нотев - "патриотичната двойка" за "Дондуков" 2". 29 July 2016.
