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

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]

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 Hristo Ivanov Liberalism
Anti-corruption
Pro-Europeanism		 23.54%
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria

Демократи за силна България

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

Зелено движение

 ZD 18 May 2008 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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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