Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2009
Encyclopedia
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.
with a lesser plurality vote element. 209 of the 240 parliament seats were distributed according to the proportional system, while the remaining 31 (the number of voting constituencies in Bulgaria) were allocated for First Past the Post.
The ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party
wanted to amend the electoral law, increasing state subsidies for political parties threefold (the reason for doing this would be making campaign financing more transparent, they claim), requiring registration in at least two-thirds of all electoral districts (thus eliminating most marginal parties).
An electoral reform was passed in April 2009 with the votes of the BSP
, the DPS
, Ataka
and Order, Law and Justice. It would raise the election threshold
for alliances from 4% to 8% (which was widely seen as a move against the opposition electoral alliance of DSB
and SDS, which was polling around 7.3% at that time) and established that 31 of the 240 seats would be elected by majority vote. President Georgi Parvanov
returned the law to parliament for reconsideration, but as the parties had no plans to amend it and as he could only return the law once, he had to sign it before the election. After the law had been passed, the provision raising the electoral threshold was struck down by the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria
.
The Blue Coalition was denied registration for the election by the Central Election Commission on 28 May 2009 due to a leadership struggle in the UDF, one of the two constituent parties. The Blue Coalition announced it would appeal the ruling. On 29 May 2009, the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the CEC's decision, allowing the Blue Coalition to contest the election.
's GERB party, which gained 39.72% of the proportional vote and 26 of the 31 majority vote parliament seats. The ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party
-headed Coalition for Bulgaria
gathered 17.70% but no majority vote seats, while the liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms
, also in power until the election, amassed 14.45% and won the remaining five majority vote seats in the National Assembly of Bulgaria
. Nationalist party Ataka
came fourth with 9.36% of the proportional vote, followed by the conservative Blue Coalition
with 6.76% and the conservative Order, Law and Justice, whose tally was at 4.13%. Parties such as LIDER
and Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha's once -ruling NDSV did not cross the 4% threshold and won no seats. The voter turnout
of 60.20% was perceived as high, but was not unexpected.
As a result of the election, Bulgaria is expected to be governed by a centre-right
coalition dominated by GERB, with Boyko Borisov as Prime Minister. BSP and DPS, the leading members of the former centre-left
ruling coalition, are to remain in opposition. Due to the party's failure in the elections, not electing a single member of parliament, former Tsar and more recently Prime Minister resigned as NDSV leader on 6 July. While Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev
took the responsibility for the socialists' electoral failure, he did not resign as party leader and is to lead the party in opposition.
is used to allocate the number of seats to parties on the provincial level.
with an additional 3 reserved for the most populated cities of Sofia
and Plovdiv
.
The following table presents the summary of the majoritarian vote in Bulgaria
:
The elected majoritarian candidates are elected through first past the post
method.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
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.
Pre-election events
The 2009 elections saw the debut of a parallel voting systemVoting system
A voting system or electoral system is a method by which voters make a choice between options, often in an election or on a policy referendum....
with a lesser plurality vote element. 209 of the 240 parliament seats were distributed according to the proportional system, while the remaining 31 (the number of voting constituencies in Bulgaria) were allocated for First Past the Post.
The ruling 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....
wanted to amend the electoral law, increasing state subsidies for political parties threefold (the reason for doing this would be making campaign financing more transparent, they claim), requiring registration in at least two-thirds of all electoral districts (thus eliminating most marginal parties).
An electoral reform was passed in April 2009 with the votes of the BSP
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....
, the DPS
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...
, Ataka
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...
and Order, Law and Justice. It would raise the election threshold
Election threshold
In party-list proportional representation systems, an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes, either nationally or within a particular district, to obtain any seats in the parliament...
for alliances from 4% to 8% (which was widely seen as a move against the opposition electoral alliance of DSB
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria is a political party in Bulgaria established by former Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov . The motto of the party is "For a Strong Bulgaria in Unified Europe".- History :...
and SDS, which was polling around 7.3% at that time) and established that 31 of the 240 seats would be elected by majority vote. President Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov is a President of Bulgaria, whose second and last mandate expires on January 22, 2012; he was elected after defeating his predecessor Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the presidential elections in November 2001 and he came into office on January 22, 2002...
returned the law to parliament for reconsideration, but as the parties had no plans to amend it and as he could only return the law once, he had to sign it before the election. After the law had been passed, the provision raising the electoral threshold was struck down by the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria
Constitutional Court of Bulgaria
The Constitutional Court of Bulgaria is in charge of reviewing the constitutionality of laws and statutes brought before it, as well as the compliance of these laws with international treaties that the Government has signed. The 12 members of the Constitutional Court serve a nine-year term....
.
The Blue Coalition was denied registration for the election by the Central Election Commission on 28 May 2009 due to a leadership struggle in the UDF, one of the two constituent parties. The Blue Coalition announced it would appeal the ruling. On 29 May 2009, the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the CEC's decision, allowing the Blue Coalition to contest the election.
Aftermath
The elections were decisively won by Sofia mayor Boyko BorisovBoyko 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....
's GERB party, which gained 39.72% of the proportional vote and 26 of the 31 majority vote parliament seats. The ruling 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....
-headed Coalition for Bulgaria
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 ....
gathered 17.70% but no majority vote seats, while the liberal 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...
, also in power until the election, amassed 14.45% and won the remaining five majority vote seats in the 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:...
. Nationalist party Ataka
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...
came fourth with 9.36% of the proportional vote, followed by the conservative 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...
with 6.76% and the conservative Order, Law and Justice, whose tally was at 4.13%. Parties such as LIDER
Lider (Bulgaria)
LIDER is a Bulgarian right-wing political party registered in 2007. Its leader is Kancho Filipov.-Participation in elections:...
and Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha's once -ruling NDSV did not cross the 4% threshold and won no seats. The voter turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
of 60.20% was perceived as high, but was not unexpected.
As a result of the election, Bulgaria is expected to be governed by a centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
coalition dominated by GERB, with Boyko Borisov as Prime Minister. BSP and DPS, the leading members of the former centre-left
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
ruling coalition, are to remain in opposition. Due to the party's failure in the elections, not electing a single member of parliament, former Tsar and more recently Prime Minister resigned as NDSV leader on 6 July. While Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev
Sergey Stanishev
Sergei Dmitrievich Stanishev is a Bulgarian politician who was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2005 to 2009; currently he is Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and Interim President of the Party of European Socialists...
took the responsibility for the socialists' electoral failure, he did not resign as party leader and is to lead the party in opposition.
Participating parties
Parties standing in the election included:- Order, Law and Justice (Ред, Законност, Справедливост)
- LiderLider (Bulgaria)LIDER is a Bulgarian right-wing political party registered in 2007. Its leader is Kancho Filipov.-Participation in elections:...
(Лидер) - Citizens for European Development of BulgariaCitizens for European Development of BulgariaCitizens 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....
(ГЕРБ) - Movement for Rights and FreedomsMovement for Rights and FreedomsThe 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...
(ДПС) - National Union AttackNational Union AttackThe 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...
(Атака) - Coalition for BulgariaCoalition for BulgariaThe 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 ....
(led by the Bulgarian Socialist PartyBulgarian Socialist PartyThe 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....
) (Коалиция за България) - Union of the Patriotic Forces "Defense" (Съюз на Патриотичните Сили "Защита")
- National Movement for Stability and Progress (formerly the National Movement Simeon II) (НДСВ)
- Coalition BANU (Коалиция БЗНС)(disqualified from the election)
- Bulgarian Left Coalition (Българска Лява Коалиция)
- Party of the Liberal Alternative and Peace (Партия на Либералната Алтернатива и Мира (ПЛАМ))
- The GreensThe Greens (Bulgaria)The Greens are a green Bulgarian political party founded in 2008.-History:Zelenite emerged from a number of non-governmental organizations who felt, after years of work in the area of environment protection, human rights, etc...
(ПП Зелените) - Social Democrats (Социалдемократи)
- Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Bulgarian National MovementIMRO – Bulgarian National MovementThe 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...
(ВМРО – Българско Национално Движение)(disqualified from the election) - The Other Bulgaria (ПП Другата България)
- Union of the Bulgarian Patriots (Обединение на Българските Патриоти)
- National Movement for the Salvation of the FatherlandNational Movement for the Salvation of the FatherlandThe National Movement for the Salvation of the Fatherland is a nationalist political party in Bulgaria. It is part of the Union Attack, that won at the last legislative elections, 25 June 2005, 9.0 % of the popular vote and 21 out of 240 seats....
(Политическа партия "Национално движение за спасение на Отечеството") - Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy (Български Национален Съюз – НД)
- Blue CoalitionBlue CoalitionThe 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...
(Синята Коалиция) - For the Homeland (За Родината – ДГИ-НЛ)
Polls
- The following are the polls for the proportional vote:
Source Date Turnout GERB Citizens for European Development of BulgariaCitizens 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....BSP Coalition for BulgariaThe 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 ....DPS Movement for Rights and FreedomsThe 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...Ataka National Union AttackThe 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...BC Blue CoalitionThe 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...NDSV Lider Lider (Bulgaria)LIDER is a Bulgarian right-wing political party registered in 2007. Its leader is Kancho Filipov.-Participation in elections:...RZS NCIOM 3 July 55 29-32 20-22 13-14 9-11 8-9 5-5.5 5-5.5 4 Alpha Research 1 July 56 33.9 19.5 14.1 9 8.1 4.2 4.5 4.1
Proportional vote
The Hare-Niemeyer methodLargest remainder method
The largest remainder method is one way of allocating seats proportionally for representative assemblies with party list voting systems...
is used to allocate the number of seats to parties on the provincial level.
Majority vote
There are 31 constituencies corresponding to the 28 Provinces of BulgariaProvinces 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 following table presents the summary of the majoritarian vote in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
:
| Party | Seats | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.... |
26 | ||
| Coalition for Bulgaria 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 .... |
0 | ||
| 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... |
5 | ||
| 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... |
0 | ||
| National Movement for Stability and Progress | 0 | ||
| 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... |
0 | ||
| Lider (Bulgaria) Lider (Bulgaria) LIDER is a Bulgarian right-wing political party registered in 2007. Its leader is Kancho Filipov.-Participation in elections:... |
0 | ||
| Order, Law and Justice | 0 | ||
| Others | 0 | ||
| Total | 31 | — | |
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.
External Links
- NSD: European Election Database - Bulgaria publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1990-2009