Wikipedia

Democratic Bulgaria

Democratic Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Демократична България - Обединение, ДБ, Demokratichna Balgariya, DB) is a political alliance in Bulgaria. Founded on 12 April 2018 as an electoral alliance between three political parties – DaB, DSB and the Green Movement,[8] it merged into PP-DB in 2023.[9] In April 2024 the Green Movement left PP-DB.[10] DaB and DSB maintain close relations and brand themselves as "Democratic Bulgaria".

Democratic Bulgaria
Демократична България
AbbreviationDB
LeadersHristo Ivanov
Atanas Atanasov
Founded12 April 2018; 6 years ago (2018-04-12)
Dissolved13 February 2023 (2023-02-13) (as an electoral alliance)
Preceded byReformist Bloc
Succeeded byPP–DB (a successor to the electoral alliance)
IdeologyLiberal conservatism[1] Conservative liberalism[2]
Liberalism[3][4]
Anti-corruption[4]
Pro-Europeanism[5]
Political positionCentre-right[6][7]
European affiliationEuropean People's Party[a]
Colours  Blue   White   Green   Red
National Assembly
26 / 240
European Parliament
1 / 17
Website
demokrati.bg

History

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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.[11][12] 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.[13]

Structure

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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.[14]

At the Congress of Yes, Bulgaria!, Hristo Ivanov proposed the formation of a joint board between the three DB member parties in order to coordinate decision making between the three parties, with PP similarly invited.[15]

Composition

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Party Abbr. Founded Leader Ideology MPs MEPs
Yes, Bulgaria!

Да, България!

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

Демократи за силна България

DSB 30 May 2004 (2004-05-30) Atanas Atanasov Liberal conservatism
Pro-Europeanism
Anti-communism

Political positions

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Finance

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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

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

Presidential endorsement

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

Election results

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2019 European Parliament election

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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

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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]

Electoral history

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National Assembly

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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
   7 Snap election
Nov 2021 166,966 6.37 (#6)
16 / 240
   18 Coalition
2022 186,511 7.45 (#6)
20 / 240
   4 Snap election
  1. ^ Currently, only the DSB is a formal member of the EPP. However, DaB! has revealed its intention to apply for membership as well and is expected to receive one soon.

European Parliament

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Election Votes % Seats +/–
2019 118,484 6.06 (#5)
1 / 17
 New
2024 290,865 14.45 (#3)
1 / 17
   0

References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ Petkova, Mariya (12 July 2020). "Bulgaria rocked by protests amid coronavirus fears". Al Jazeera.
  7. ^ Dimitrov, Martin (20 August 2020). "How a bizarre beach plot landed Bulgaria's longtime PM in hot water". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Ангелов, Георги А. (April 12, 2018). "ДСБ, "Да, България" и "Зелените" учредяват обединение "Демократична България"". Dnevnik.
  9. ^ "ПП и ДБ официално подписаха споразумението за общо явяване на изборите". novini.bg (in Bulgarian). 10 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  10. ^ ""Зелено движение" напуска ПП-ДБ, ще се явява отделно на изборите". mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). 15 April 2024.
  11. ^ ""Демократична България" пое на битка срещу корупицонния модел на ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС". Mediapool.bg. 12 April 2018.
  12. ^ ""Демократична България" срещу "корупционния модел на ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС" (ВИДЕО)". 12 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Демократична България може много повече | Демократична България".
  14. ^ "ДСБ, "Да, България" и "Зелените" се обединяват в съюз "Демократична България"". www.capital.bg. 10 April 2018.
  15. ^ ""Да, България" ще кандидатства в ЕНП, предлага общ борд на ДСБ и "Зелено движение"". Mediapool. 9 March 2024.
  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". Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  20. ^ "Стефан Тафров спечели вътрешните избори на "Да, България" за евродепутати". www.capital.bg. 11 February 2019.
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "Изненада при районните кметове в София след окончателните резултати". Vesti.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2019-11-04.
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