Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria is a political party
in Bulgaria
established by former Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov
(1997–2001). The motto
of the party is "For a Strong Bulgaria in Unified Europe".
after a painful election defeat in June 2001 to Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
's newly established National Movement for Simeon II. The UDF had suffered heavily from allegations of corruption and increased unemployment after having carried out economic reforms during its four-year term.
With time 29 (out of 51) UDF MPs including Kostov grew increasingly dissatisfied with the new UDF leadership of chairwoman Nadezhda Mikhailova, who was the foreign minister in Kostov's own government. Following another defeat for the UDF in the 2003 local elections and after Nadezhda Mikhailova's refusal to bear the responsibility and resign, the group of 29 around Kostov announced their departure from the UDF and the formation of a new political force, the DSB.
DSB is a member of the European People's Party
(EPP).
since its establishment in May 2004. Deputy chairpersons are Veselin Metodiev
and Ekaterina Mikhailova.
, 25 June 2005, DSB won 7.0 % of the popular vote and 17 out of 240 seats, their support coming mainly from big cities (appr. 18 % of voters in Sofia
). See also Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2005
, former finance minister and head of the Central Bank of Bulgaria
Svetoslav Gavriyski arrived third in the first round with 18% of the votes.
The last political surveys (March'2006) show the serious decreasing of the people support for the Kostov's party. Less than only 4% of the political support moves today this party to a position behind BSP (socialists / communists party), ATAKA (nationalists party), NDSV (Simeon II former king party) and UDF.
The DSB define themselves as a moderately conservative
, but also nationally oriented party.
They regard themselves as successors of the ruling mandate of the United Democratic Forces
(1997–2001) and promise to stand up for its achievements and build on them.
The party stands for a new structure, composition and organization of the constitutional powers in Bulgaria through the adoption of a new Constitution
.
They propose a decrease in overall taxes, the creation of an investor
-friendly tax and insurance environment and tax and insurance incentives to small and medium-sized enterprises and to companies that generate long-term employment. The DSB propose to reform the law enforcement institutions in order to cut off their connection with the criminal world and in order to abolish corruption. They also insist on making officials of the executive and the other branches of power fully accountable for their actions stripping them of their immunity
.
They support the independence and public nature of the National Health Insurance Fund
, the promotion of additional health insurance schemes through optional funds and competition between these funds.
The DSB stand for integration and coexistence of different ethnic communities on the basis of equality before the Law, regardless of religion, gender and origin and strongly oppose Ahmed Dogan
, the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms
claiming that his "Bulgarian Ethnic Model" is one of separation and encapsulation of Bulgarian Turks
, aimed at monopolizing their vote instead of integrating them in Bulgarian society. This opposition has often been wrongly referred to as anti-minority nationalism
.
Kostov and the DSB are outspoken opponents of the Bulgarian Socialist Party
whom they regard as the heir to the totalitarian Bulgarian Communist Party
and define them as their main political enemy. They have also often criticized ex-Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
for allying himself with the socialists and who is accused, very much like Kostov was, of corruption.
Kostov's government was the one to begin adhesion talks with the European Union
back in 1999 and the DSB continue to support European orientation for the country.
Before the elections of June 2005 Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria issued the Treaty for a Strong Bulgaria which is a 12 point resume of their program.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
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...
established by former Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov
Ivan Kostov
Ivan Yordanov Kostov was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from May 1997 to July 2001 and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces between December 1994 and July 2001....
(1997–2001). The motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
of the party is "For a Strong Bulgaria in Unified Europe".
History
Kostov resigned as chairman of the United Democratic ForcesUnited 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...
after a painful election defeat in June 2001 to Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Simeon Borisov of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Tsar Simeon II or Simeon II of Bulgaria is an important political and royal figure in Bulgaria...
's newly established National Movement for Simeon II. The UDF had suffered heavily from allegations of corruption and increased unemployment after having carried out economic reforms during its four-year term.
With time 29 (out of 51) UDF MPs including Kostov grew increasingly dissatisfied with the new UDF leadership of chairwoman Nadezhda Mikhailova, who was the foreign minister in Kostov's own government. Following another defeat for the UDF in the 2003 local elections and after Nadezhda Mikhailova's refusal to bear the responsibility and resign, the group of 29 around Kostov announced their departure from the UDF and the formation of a new political force, the DSB.
DSB is a member of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
(EPP).
Leaders
It has been chaired by Ivan KostovIvan Kostov
Ivan Yordanov Kostov was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from May 1997 to July 2001 and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces between December 1994 and July 2001....
since its establishment in May 2004. Deputy chairpersons are Veselin Metodiev
Veselin Metodiev
Veselin Metodiev Petrov is a Bulgarian politician, member of Parliament & deputy chairman of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria...
and Ekaterina Mikhailova.
25 June, 2005 legislative elections
At the last legislative electionsElections in Bulgaria
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...
, 25 June 2005, DSB won 7.0 % of the popular vote and 17 out of 240 seats, their support coming mainly from big cities (appr. 18 % of voters in 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...
). See also Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2005
Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2005
Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2005 - Elections were held on June 25, 2005, for the 240 members of the National Assembly. According to exit polls, the Leftist Coalition for Bulgaria had a lead with around 31%, but without a majority, necessitating the creation of a coalition. The National...
29 October, 2005 partial local elections
The DSB candidate for Mayor of SofiaSofia
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...
, former finance minister and head of the Central Bank of Bulgaria
Bulgarian National Bank
The Bulgarian National Bank is the central bank of the Republic of Bulgaria with its headquarters in Sofia. The BNB has been established on 25 January 1879. It is an independent institution responsible for issuing all banknotes and coins in the country, overseeing and regulating the banking sector...
Svetoslav Gavriyski arrived third in the first round with 18% of the votes.
The last political surveys (March'2006) show the serious decreasing of the people support for the Kostov's party. Less than only 4% of the political support moves today this party to a position behind BSP (socialists / communists party), ATAKA (nationalists party), NDSV (Simeon II former king party) and UDF.
Program
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
, but also nationally oriented party.
They regard themselves as successors of the ruling mandate of the 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...
(1997–2001) and promise to stand up for its achievements and build on them.
The party stands for a new structure, composition and organization of the constitutional powers in Bulgaria through the adoption of a new Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
.
They propose a decrease in overall taxes, the creation of an investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
-friendly tax and insurance environment and tax and insurance incentives to small and medium-sized enterprises and to companies that generate long-term employment. The DSB propose to reform the law enforcement institutions in order to cut off their connection with the criminal world and in order to abolish corruption. They also insist on making officials of the executive and the other branches of power fully accountable for their actions stripping them of their immunity
Sovereign immunity
Sovereign immunity, or crown immunity, is a legal doctrine by which the sovereign or state cannot commit a legal wrong and is immune from civil suit or criminal prosecution....
.
They support the independence and public nature of the National Health Insurance Fund
Universal health care
Universal health care is a term referring to organized health care systems built around the principle of universal coverage for all members of society, combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision.-History:...
, the promotion of additional health insurance schemes through optional funds and competition between these funds.
The DSB stand for integration and coexistence of different ethnic communities on the basis of equality before the Law, regardless of religion, gender and origin and strongly oppose Ahmed Dogan
Ahmed Dogan
Ahmed Demir Dogan is a Bulgarian politician.- Biography :He is the founder and leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms , a liberal party that represents the interests of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria...
, the leader of the 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...
claiming that his "Bulgarian Ethnic Model" is one of separation and encapsulation of Bulgarian Turks
Turks in Bulgaria
The Turks in Bulgaria number 588,318 people and constitute 8.8% of those who declared their ethnic group and 8.0% of the total population according to the 2011 Bulgarian census. 605,802 persons or 9.1% of the population pointed Turkish language as their mother tongue. They are also the largest...
, aimed at monopolizing their vote instead of integrating them in Bulgarian society. This opposition has often been wrongly referred to as anti-minority nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
.
Kostov and the DSB are outspoken opponents of the 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....
whom they regard as the heir to the totalitarian Bulgarian Communist Party
Bulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
and define them as their main political enemy. They have also often criticized ex-Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Simeon Borisov of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Tsar Simeon II or Simeon II of Bulgaria is an important political and royal figure in Bulgaria...
for allying himself with the socialists and who is accused, very much like Kostov was, of corruption.
Kostov's government was the one to begin adhesion talks with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
back in 1999 and the DSB continue to support European orientation for the country.
Before the elections of June 2005 Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria issued the Treaty for a Strong Bulgaria which is a 12 point resume of their program.