Democratic Bulgaria

Bulgarian political party

This article has an unclear citation style. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting. (October 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Democratic Bulgaria

Демократична България

Abbreviation| DB
Leaders| Hristo Ivanov
Atanas Atanasov
Founded| 12 April 2018; 6 years ago (2018-04-12)
Dissolved| 13 February 2023 (2023-02-13) (as an electoral alliance)
Preceded by| Reformist Bloc
Succeeded by| PP–DB (a successor to the electoral alliance)
Ideology| Liberal conservatism[1] Conservative liberalism[2]
Liberalism[3][4]
Anti-corruption[4]
Pro-Europeanism[5]
Political position| Centre-right[6][7]
European affiliation| European People's Party[a]
Colours|  Blue White Green Red
National Assembly|

26 / 240

European Parliament|

1 / 17

Website
demokrati.bg

* Politics of Bulgaria
* Political parties
* Elections

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".

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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 |

9 / 240

0 / 17

| Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria

Демократи за силна България

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

8 / 240

1 / 17

## Political positions

[edit]

### Finance

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

### Presidential endorsement

[edit]

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

## Election results

[edit]

### 2019 European Parliament election

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### National Assembly

[edit]

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

[edit]

Election  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/–

|
|
|
|

2019 | 118,484  | 6.06 (#5)  |

1 / 17

| New
2024 | 290,865  | 14.45 (#3)  |

1 / 17

|  0

## References

[edit]

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.

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in Bulgaria

National Assembly
(240 seats)|

* GERB—SDS
* 69; GERB
* SDS
* PP–DB
* 35; PP
* DaB!
* DSB
* Revival (38)
* DPS – A New Beginning
* 30; DPS
* BSP – United Left
* 20; BSP
* IS.BG
* Alliance for Rights and Freedoms
* 19; SBOR
* ZNS
* There Is Such a People (18)
* Morality, Unity, Honour (12)

European Parliament
(17 seats)|

* GERB—SDS
* 5; GERB
* SDS
* Movement for Rights and Freedoms (3)
* PP–DB
* 3; PP
* DSB
* Revival (3)
* BSP for Bulgaria
* 2; BSP
* There Is Such a People (1)

Unrepresented|

* Agrarian People's Union
* Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski"
* Alternative for Bulgarian Revival
* Attack
* Bulgaria for Citizens Movement
* Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
* Bulgarian Communist Party (modern)
* Bulgarian Left
* Bulgarian National Unification
* Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy
* Bulgarian New Democracy
* Bulgarian Progressive Line
* Bulgarian Rise
* Bulgarian Social Democracy – EuroLeft
* Bulgarian Summer
* Civil Union "Roma"
* Communist Party of Bulgaria
* Conservative Bulgaria
* Conservative Union of the Right
* Ecoglasnost
* Green Movement
* Green Party of Bulgaria
* Lider
* Movement 21
* Movement for an Equal Public Model
* National Democratic Party
* National Movement for the Salvation of the Fatherland
* National Movement for Stability and Progress
* Party of the Bulgarian Communists
* People's Voice
* Political Movement "Social Democrats"
* Radical Democratic Party
* Reload Bulgaria
* Republicans for Bulgaria
* Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland
* The Left!
* The Other Bulgaria
* Union of Communists in Bulgaria
* Union of Free Democrats
* Union of the Patriotic Forces "Defense"
* Velichie
* VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement

Defunct|

* Alternative Social-Liberal Party
* Bulgarian Business Bloc
* Bulgarian Communist Party
* Bulgarian Communist Party – Marxists
* Bulgarian Euro-Left
* National Socialist Bulgarian Workers Party
* Bulgarian People's Union
* Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers Party (Broad Socialists)
* Bulgarian United Communist Party
* Communist Workers' Party of Bulgaria
* Conservative Party
* Constitutional Bloc
* Democratic Alliance
* George Ganchev's Bloc
* Liberal Party
* Liberal Party (Radoslavists)
* Movement for Social Humanism
* National Ideal for Unity
* National Liberal Party
* National Social Movement
* Nationalist Party of Bulgaria
* Order, Law and Justice
* Patriotic Front
* Patriotic Party of Labour
* People for Real, Open and United Democracy
* People's Alliance
* People's Liberal Party
* People's Party
* Progressive Liberal Party
* Reformist Bloc
* Social Democratic Union 'Proletarian'
* United Labour Social Democratic Party
* United Patriots
* United People's Progressive Party
* Young Liberals Party
* Zveno

* Portal:Politics
* List of political parties
* Politics of Bulgaria

*[Abbr.]: Abbreviation
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template