Elections in Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Elections in Bulgaria gives information on election
and election results in Bulgaria
.
Bulgaria elects on national level a head of state
- the president
- and a legislature
. The president is elected for a five year term by the people. The National Assembly
(Narodno Sabranie) has 240 members, 209 elected for a four year term by proportional representation
in multi-seat constituencies with a 4% threshold, and 31 through First Past the Post seats corresponding to the provinces and the largest cities.
Bulgaria has a multi-party system, with numerous parties
in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties
must work with each other to form coalition government
s.
election results
:
Summary of the 1994 National Assembly of Bulgaria
election results
:
Summary of the 1997 National Assembly of Bulgaria
election results
:
Summary of the 2001 National Assembly of Bulgaria
election results
:
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 5 July 2009. The decisive winner of the elections was Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
(or GERB
) party, led by Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov
. GERB amassed more votes than the members of the then-ruling centre-left coalition combined and is to head a centre-right government.
Majority vote
There are 31 constituencies corresponding to the 28 Provinces of Bulgaria
with an additional 3 reserved for the most populated cities of Sofia
and Plovdiv
. The elected majoritarian candidates are elected through first past the post
method. GERB
gained 26 seats, while Movement for Rights and Freedoms
gained 5 of them.
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
and election results in Bulgaria
Politics of Bulgaria
Politics of Bulgaria take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the...
.
Bulgaria elects on national level a head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
- the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
- and a legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The president is elected for a five year term by the people. The National Assembly
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
(Narodno Sabranie) has 240 members, 209 elected for a four year term by proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
in multi-seat constituencies with a 4% threshold, and 31 through First Past the Post seats corresponding to the provinces and the largest cities.
Bulgaria has a multi-party system, with numerous parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
must work with each other to form coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
s.
National legislatures
| Legislatures | Term | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Constituent Assembly | 10.02.1879-16.04.1879 | 231 |
| 1 Grand National Assembly | 17.04.1879-26.06.1879 | 231 |
| 1 Ordinary National Assembly | 21.10.1879-24.11.1879 | 158 |
| 2 Ordinary National Assembly | 23.03.1880-18.12.1880 | 172 |
| 2 Grand National Assembly | 01.07.1881 | 307 |
| 3 Ordinary National Assembly | 10.12.1882-25.12.1883 | 47 |
| 4 Ordinary National Assembly | 27.06.1884-06.09.1886 | 195/286 |
| 3 Grand National Assembly | 19.10.1886-03.08.1887 | 493 |
| 5 Ordinary National Assembly | 15.10.1887-17.12.1889 | 285 |
| 6 Ordinary National Assembly | 15.10.1890-15.12.1892 | 276 |
| 4 Grand National Assembly | 03.05.1893-17.05.1893 | 577 |
| 7 Ordinary National Assembly | 15.10.1893-21.12.1893 | 145 |
| 8 Ordinary National Assembly | 15.10.1894-04.02.1896 | 149 |
| 9 Ordinary National Assembly | 01.12.1896-19.12.1898 | 159 |
| 10 Ordinary National Assembly | 16.05.1899-29.11.1900 | 169 |
| 11 Ordinary National Assembly | 22.02.1901-23.12.1901 | 166 |
| 12 Ordinary National Assembly | 22.04.1902-31.03.1903 | 188 |
| 13 Ordinary National Assembly | 02.11.1903-22.12.1907 | 189 |
| 14 Ordinary National Assembly | 15.06.1908-15.02.1911 | 203 |
| 5 Grand National Assembly | 09.06.1911-09.07.1911 | 414 |
| 15 Ordinary National Assembly | 15.10.1911-23.07.1913 | 213 |
| 16 Ordinary National Assembly | 19.12.1913-31.12.1913 | 204 |
| 17 Ordinary National Assembly | 20.03.1914-15.04.1919 | 257 |
| 18 Ordinary National Assembly | 02.10.1919-20.02.1920 | 237 |
| 19 Ordinary National Assembly | 15.04.1920-11.03.1923 | 232 |
| 20 Ordinary National Assembly | 21.05.1923-11.06.1923 | 245 |
| 21 Ordinary National Assembly | 09.12.1923-15.04.1927 | 267 |
| 22 Ordinary National Assembly | 19.06.1927-18.04.1931 | 275 |
| 23 Ordinary National Assembly | 20.08.1931-19.05.1934 | 283 |
| 24 Ordinary National Assembly | 22.05.1938-27.04.1939 | 160 |
| 25 Ordinary National Assembly | 24.02.1940-23.08.1944 | 160 |
| 26 Ordinary National Assembly | 15.12.1945-28.09.1946 | 279 |
| 6 Grand National Assembly | 07.11.1946-21.10.1949 | 465(375) |
| 1(27) National Assembly | 17.01.1950-02.11.1953 | 239 |
| 2(28) National Assembly | 14.01.1954-11.12.1957 | 249 |
| 3(29) National Assembly | 13.01.1958-04.11.1961 | 254 |
| 4(30) National Assembly | 15.03.1962-08.12.1965 | 321 |
| 5(31) National Assembly | 11.03.1966-18.05.1971 | 416 |
| 6(32) National Assembly | 07.07.1971-09.03.1976 | 400 |
| 7(33) National Assembly | 15.06.1976-07.04.1981 | 400 |
| 8(34) National Assembly | 16.06.1981-21.03.1986 | 400 |
| 9(35) National Assembly | 17.06.1986-03.04.1990 | 400 |
| 7 Grand National Assembly | 10.07.1990-02.10.1991 | 400 |
| 36 National Assembly | 04.11.1991-17.10.1994 | 240 |
| 37 National Assembly | 12.01.1995-13.02.1997 | 240 |
| 38 National Assembly | 07.05.1997-19.04.2001 | 240 |
| 39 National Assembly | 05.07.2001-17.06.2005 | 240 |
| 40 National Assembly | 11.07.2005- 27.06.2009 | 240 |
| 41 National Assembly | 14.07.2009- present | 240 |
Parliamentary election
Summary of the 1991 National Assembly of BulgariaNational Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
election results
Bulgarian parliamentary election, 1991
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 13 October 1991. The result was a victory for the Union of Democratic Forces, which won 110 of the 240 seats. Voter turnout was 83.9%.-Results:...
:
| Party | Votes | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union of Democratic Forces Union of Democratic Forces Union of Democratic Forces or Union of the Democratic Forces is the name of:*Union of Democratic Forces *Union of Democratic Forces *Union of Democratic Forces *Union of Democratic Forces... |
1,903,567 | 110 | |
| Bulgarian Socialist Party Bulgarian Socialist Party The Bulgarian Socialist Party is social-democratic political party in Bulgaria and successor to the Bulgarian Communist Party. The BSP is a member of the Party of European Socialists and Socialist International, and is currently led by Sergei Stanishev.... |
1,836,050 | 106 | |
| Movement for Rights and Freedoms Movement for Rights and Freedoms The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland... |
418,168 | 24 | |
| Others | ? | 0 | |
| Total | ? | 240 |
Summary of the 1994 National Assembly of Bulgaria
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
election results
Bulgarian parliamentary election, 1994
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 18 December 1994. The result was a victory for the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which won 125 of the 240 seats. Voter turnout was 75.3%. Following the election, Socialist Party leader Zhan Videnov became Prime Minister.-Results:¹ The People's Union was...
:
| Party | Votes | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian Socialist Party Bulgarian Socialist Party The Bulgarian Socialist Party is social-democratic political party in Bulgaria and successor to the Bulgarian Communist Party. The BSP is a member of the Party of European Socialists and Socialist International, and is currently led by Sergei Stanishev.... |
2,262,943 | 125 | |
| Union of Democratic Forces Union of Democratic Forces Union of Democratic Forces or Union of the Democratic Forces is the name of:*Union of Democratic Forces *Union of Democratic Forces *Union of Democratic Forces *Union of Democratic Forces... |
1,260,374 | 69 | |
| Bulgarian People's Union Bulgarian People's Union The Bulgarian People's Union is an electoral alliance in Bulgaria. At the last legislative elections, 25 June 2005, it won 5.7 % of the popular vote and 13 out of 240 seats... |
338,478 | 18 | |
| Movement for Rights and Freedoms Movement for Rights and Freedoms The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland... |
283,094 | 15 | |
| Bulgarian Business Block | 245,849 | 13 | |
| Others | ? | 0 | |
| Total | ? | 240 |
Summary of the 1997 National Assembly of Bulgaria
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
election results
Bulgarian parliamentary election, 1997
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 19 April 1997. The result was a victory for the United Democratic Forces , which won 137 of the 240 seats. Voter turnout was 62.9%...
:
| Party | Votes | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Democratic Forces United Democratic Forces The United Democratic Forces were a center-right electoral alliance in Bulgaria, led by the Union of Democratic Forces.-Members of the coalition:1997 *Union of Democratic Forces... |
2,223,714 | 137 | |
| Democratic Left (Bulgarian Socialist Party) Bulgarian Socialist Party The Bulgarian Socialist Party is social-democratic political party in Bulgaria and successor to the Bulgarian Communist Party. The BSP is a member of the Party of European Socialists and Socialist International, and is currently led by Sergei Stanishev.... |
939,308 | 58 | |
| Union for National Salvation (Mov. for Rights and Freed.) Movement for Rights and Freedoms The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland... |
323,429 | 19 | |
| Euroleft | 234,058 | 14 | |
| Bulgarian Business Block | 209,796 | 12 | |
| Others | ? | 0 | |
| Total | ? | 240 |
Summary of the 2001 National Assembly of Bulgaria
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
election results
Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2001
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 17 June 2001. The result was a victory for the National Movement – Simeon II, which won 120 of the 240 seats. Voter turnout was 67.0%...
:
| Party | Votes | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Movement Simeon II National Movement Simeon II The National Movement for Stability and Progress or Nacionalno dviženie za stabilnost i văzhod), until 3 June 2007 known as the National Movement Simeon II , is a liberal political party in Bulgaria, the vehicle of Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski, the deposed Tsar of Bulgaria and former Prime... |
1,952,513 | 120 | |
| United Democratic Forces United Democratic Forces The United Democratic Forces were a center-right electoral alliance in Bulgaria, led by the Union of Democratic Forces.-Members of the coalition:1997 *Union of Democratic Forces... |
830,338 | 51 | |
| Coalition for Bulgaria (Bulgarian Socialist Party) Coalition for Bulgaria The Coalition for Bulgaria is a centre-left electoral alliance in Bulgaria, led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party.-Members of the coalition:2001 / 2005 *Bulgarian Socialist Party .... |
783,372 | 48 | |
| Movement for Rights and Freedoms Movement for Rights and Freedoms The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland... |
340,395 | 21 | |
| Others | ? | 0 | |
| Total | ? | 240 |
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 5 July 2009. The decisive winner of the elections was Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria , abbreviated GERB , is a Bulgarian centre-right political party established on March 13 2006. It has been Bulgaria's ruling party since 2009....
(or GERB
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria , abbreviated GERB , is a Bulgarian centre-right political party established on March 13 2006. It has been Bulgaria's ruling party since 2009....
) party, led by Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov
Boyko Borisov
Boyko Metodiev Borisov is a Bulgarian politician who has been Prime Minister of Bulgaria since July 2009. Previously he was Mayor of Sofia from 8 November 2005 until his election as Prime Minister....
. GERB amassed more votes than the members of the then-ruling centre-left coalition combined and is to head a centre-right government.
Majority vote
There are 31 constituencies corresponding to the 28 Provinces of Bulgaria
Provinces of Bulgaria
Since 1999, Bulgaria has been divided into 28 provinces which correspond approximately to the 28 districts that existed before 1987. In 1987, during the Communist regime of Todor Zhivkov, the districts were consolidated into nine larger provinces , which survived until 1999.Each province is named...
with an additional 3 reserved for the most populated cities of Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
and Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
. The elected majoritarian candidates are elected through first past the post
Plurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
method. GERB
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria , abbreviated GERB , is a Bulgarian centre-right political party established on March 13 2006. It has been Bulgaria's ruling party since 2009....
gained 26 seats, while Movement for Rights and Freedoms
Movement for Rights and Freedoms
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland...
gained 5 of them.
Presidential election
Summary of the 2011 Bulgarian presidential election resultsBulgarian presidential election, 2011
A presidential election was held in Bulgaria on 23 October 2011, with a runoff held on 30 October 2011. No candidate won outright in the first round, resulting in a second round runoff between the eventual winner, Rosen Plevneliev of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, and Ivaylo Kalfin...
| Candidate | Party | First round | Second round | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Rosen Plevneliev Rosen Plevneliev Rosen Plevneliev is a Bulgarian politician. He was Minister of Regional Development and Public Works from 2009 to 2011 as part of the cabinet of Boyko Borisov... |
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria , abbreviated GERB , is a Bulgarian centre-right political party established on March 13 2006. It has been Bulgaria's ruling party since 2009.... |
1,349,380 | 40.11 | 1,698,136 | 52.58 | |
| Ivaylo Kalfin Ivaylo Kalfin Ivaylo Georgiev Kalfin is a Bulgarian politician. A three-term deputy, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Deputy Prime Minister from 2005 to 2009... |
Bulgarian Socialist Party Bulgarian Socialist Party The Bulgarian Socialist Party is social-democratic political party in Bulgaria and successor to the Bulgarian Communist Party. The BSP is a member of the Party of European Socialists and Socialist International, and is currently led by Sergei Stanishev.... |
974,300 | 28.96 | 1,531,193 | 47.42 | |
| Meglena Kuneva Meglena Kuneva Meglena Shtilianova Kuneva is a Bulgarian and EU politician.Born in Sofia, Kuneva graduated in Law from Sofia University in 1981. In 1984 she became a Doctor of Law. She worked as a journalist for the Law Programme of the Bulgarian National Radio while being an Assistant Professor at Sofia... |
Initiative committee | 470,808 | 14.00 | |||
| Volen Siderov Volen Siderov Volen Nikolov Siderov is a Bulgarian politician and chairman of the nationalist party Attack. He is famous for his hard-line attitude towards minorities in Bulgaria, especially Roma and Turks.-Early life:... |
National Union Attack National Union Attack The National Union Attack is a nationalist political party in Bulgaria. At the last legislative elections, 5 July 2009, it won 9.4% of the popular vote and 21 out of 240 seats... |
122,466 | 3.64 | |||
| Stefan Solakov | National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria The National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria , is a nationalist political party in Bulgaria.-History:The party was established on May 17, 2011 year in sports hall Boycho Branzov in Burgas... |
84,205 | 2.50 | |||
| Rumen Hristov | Blue Coalition Blue Coalition The Blue Coalition is a political coalition in Bulgaria, founded in early 2009 by center-right parties, most importantly Union of the Democratic Forces and Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria... |
65,761 | 1.95 | |||
| Atanas Semov | Order, Law and Justice | 61,797 | 1.84 | |||
| Svetoslav Vitkov | Initiative committee | 54,125 | 1.61 | |||
| Sali Ibrayim | National Movement Unity | 41,837 | 1.24 | |||
| Krasimir Karakachanov | IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement The IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement is a nationalist political party in Bulgaria. The abbreviation IMRO references the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, a historic Bulgarian-established revolutionary political organization in the Macedonia and Thrace regions. IMRO – BNM's current... |
33,236 | 0.99 | |||
| Aleksey Petrov | Initiative committee | 31,613 | 0.94 | |||
| Maria Kapon | United People's Party | 30,665 | 0.91 | |||
| Nikolay Nenchev | Bulgarian Agrarian National Union Bulgarian Agrarian National Union Bulgarian Agrarian National Union also tiranslated to English as Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union is a political party devoted to representing the causes of the Bulgarian peasantry. It was most powerful between 1900 and 1923. In practice, it was an agrarian movement... |
9,827 | 0.29 | |||
| Pavel Chernev | Party for the People of the Nation | 8,081 | 0.24 | |||
| Ventsislav Yosifov | Initiative committee | 7,021 | 0.21 | |||
| Dimitar Kutsarov | Initiative committee | 6,989 | 0.21 | |||
| Andrey Chorbanov | Bulgarian Democratic Unity | 6,340 | 0.19 | |||
| Nikolay Vasilev | Initiative committee | 5,633 | 0.17 | |||
| Total valid votes | 3,364,084 | 100 | 3,229,329 | 100 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 229,844 | 6.40 | 104,837 | 3.14 | ||
| Votes cast (turnout: resp. 52.11% and 48.06%) | 3,593,751 | 100 | 3,334,169 | 100 | ||
| Registered voters | 6,896,216 | |||||
| 6,937,748 | ||||||
| Source: Electoral Commission of Bulgaria | ||||||
External links
- Blog in English about the Bulgarian elections in 2009
- Adam Carr's Election Archive
- Ms Lyubka Savkova's Bulgarian Party Politics and Public Opinion Research Website hosted by the University of Sussex
- Parties and Elections
- Народно събрание на Република България/National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria
- Bulgarian News Agency
- Blog in English about the Bulgarian elections in 2009
- NSD: European Election Database - Bulgaria publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1990-2009