2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election

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2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election
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All 240 seats in the National Assembly
121 seats needed for a majority
Turnout52.57%
PartyLeader%Seats+/–
GERB Boyko Borisov 32.6595+11
BSPzB Korneliya Ninova 27.1980+41
OP Krasimir Karakachanov 9.0727-3
DPS Mustafa Karadayi 8.9926-12
Volya Veselin Mareshki 4.1512New
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election - Vote Strength.svg
2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election - Results.svg
Prime Minister beforePrime Minister after
Ognyan Gerdzhikov.jpg Ognyan Gerdzhikov
NDSV 		Boyko Borisov
GERB 		Boyko Borissov 2017-11-03.jpg

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 26 March 2017. They had originally been scheduled for 2018 at the end of the four-year term of the National Assembly. However, following the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and the failure of Bulgarian parties to form a government, early elections were called. [1] Borisov resigned following the defeat of Tsetska Tsacheva, the candidate of his GERB party, in the November 2016 presidential elections. [2] [3] The official election campaign began on 24 February. [4]

Contents

GERB won a plurality, with 95 of the 240 seats. Borisov was elected Prime Minister again after negotiating a governing coalition. [5]

Background

During the 2016 presidential election campaign, Borisov promised to resign if his party's candidate, Chairperson of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva, lost the election.

On 6 November 2016 Tsacheva finished second in the first round to BSP-backed Major General Rumen Radev, receiving only 22% of the popular vote compared to Radev's 25.4%. [6] Following the result, Borisov reiterated his promise to resign if his party's candidate lost the runoff election a week later. On November 13, 2016, she finished a distant second with only 36.2% of the popular vote compared to Radev's 59.4%. [7]

Borisov, staying true to his campaign promise, subsequently resigned on 14 November. [8] Two days later, the National Assembly voted 218–0 to accept it. [9]

Electoral system

The 240 members of the National Assembly are elected by closed list proportional representation from 31 multi-member constituencies ranging in size from 4 to 16 seats. The electoral threshold is 4%. [10]

Bulgarians abroad were able to vote in 371 voting sections in 70 foreign countries and territories. Some territories were excluded from this provision due to either security concerns (e.g. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria) or that very few resident Bulgarian nationals resident in the country had submitted requests to be enabled to vote (e.g. Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mongolia, North Korea and Pakistan). [11]

Participating parties

The deadline for political parties to register for the election was 8 February 2017. [12] Despite holding 15 seats in the Assembly, Reload Bulgaria chose not to compete in the election after being initially refused a name change, among other reasons. [13] The list of registered parties is below. [14]

Party or coalitionLeaderIdeologyEuropean affiliation
GERB Boyko Borisov Conservatism, pro-Europeanism, populism European People's Party
BSP for Bulgaria Bulgarian Socialist Party Korneliya Ninova Socialism, Social democracy Party of European Socialists
Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski" Spas PanchevAgrarianism
Communist Party of Bulgaria Aleksandar Paunov Marxism–Leninism
New DawnMincho Minchev Left-wing nationalism
Ecoglasnost Green politics, Environmentalism
Trakia
DPS Mustafa Karadaya Liberal democracy, Bulgarian Turk's minority rights and interests Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
United Patriots National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria Valeri Simeonov Bulgarian ultranationalism, national conservatism, Euroscepticism Movement for a Europe of Liberties and Democracy
Attack Volen Siderov Bulgarian nationalism, Euroscepticism Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty
IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement Krasimir Karakachanov Bulgarian ultranationalism, national conservatism European Conservatives and Reformists
Average European Class Georgi ManevEconomic liberalism, Pro-Europeanism, populism
Union of the Patriotic Forces "Defense" Nikolay ZaharievBulgarian nationalism
Reformist Bloc Bulgarian Agrarian National Union Nikolay Nenchev Agrarianism
Bulgarian new democracyBorislav VelikovLiberalism
Bulgaria for Citizens Movement Meglena Kuneva Centrism
Union of Democratic Forces Bozhidar Lukarski Christian democracy, pro-Europeanism, conservatism European People's Party
People's Voice Svetoslav Vitkov Populism
Bulgarian Democratic ForumZhaklin TolevaNationalism
Volya Veselin Mareshki Populism, Russophilia, Liberal democracy
ABV – Movement 21 Alternative for Bulgarian Revival Konstantin ProdanovSocial democracy, Russophilia
Movement 21 Tatyana Doncheva Social democracy
Movement "Yes, Bulgaria" Yes, Bulgaria! Hristo Ivanov Anti-Corruption
The Greens Zaritsa Georgieva, Vladislav PanevGreen politics, Environmentalism European Green Party
DEOSViktor LilovLiberalism
Coalition of dissatisfiedBulgarian Social Democracy – EuroLeftDimitar MitevSocial democracy
Christian Social UnionChristian democracy
Party of the GreensVladimir NikolovGreen politics, Environmentalism European Green Party
WHO – Bulgarian Left and Green Party Bulgarian Left Hristofor Dochev, Margarita Mileva, Ivan GenovDemocratic socialism Party of the European Left
WHO – Competence, Responsibility and Truth
Green Party of Bulgaria Green politics, Environmentalism European Green Party
New Republic Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria Radan Kanev National liberalism, pro-Europeanism European People's Party
Union for Plovdiv
Bulgarian democratic community Gospodin Tonev
Bulgarian democratic center Krasimira Kovachka, Stefan KenovConservatism
Movement for Radical Change "Bulgarian Spring" Velizar Enchev Left-wing nationalism
Bulgarian National Unification Georgi GeorgievBulgarian nationalism
Revival Kostadin Kostadinov Bulgarian nationalism
National Republican PartyMladen Mladenov
Movement for an Equal Public Model Iliya Iliev Rights and interests of Gypsies
Movement Forward BulgariaZornitsa Todorova
Association DOST Democrats for Responsibility, Solidarity and Tolerance (DOST) Lyutvi Mestan Turkish minority rights and interests, Good relations with Turkey
People's Party "Freedom and Dignity"Orhan IsmailovLiberalism
National Movement for Rights and FreedomsGuner TahirTurkish minority rights and interests

Opinion polls

Bulgarian Opinion Polling, Weekly Average.png

Percentages do not account for undecided voters. 'Date' column signifies the last date of the survey in question, not the date of publication.

SourceDateSample sizeMargin of error GERB BSP DPS OP RB Volya Yes! ABV Others / None Lead
2014 election5 October 201432.7%15.4%14.8%11.8% 8.9%––4.2%12.2%
Trend 17 January 20171,002± 3.1%32.2%29.3%7.8%10.4%3.7%5.9%0.7%1.0%9.0%2.9%
Alpha Research 22 January 20171,024± 3.0%32.6%28.8%7.8%10.7%3.8%4.4%2.3%1.4%8.2%3.8%
Estat 22 January 20171,000± 3.1%36.1%27.5%6.0%7.0%2.4%8.4%0.9%1.9%9.8%8.6%
Gallup 30 January 2017816± 3.5%27.6%28.7%8.2%11.9%4.3%7.7%2.0%1.9%7.7%1.1%
CAM 7 February 20171,012± 3.1%29.2%28.1%9.6%7.5%3.7%5.2%1.5%0.9%14.3%1.1%
Trend 9 February 20171,002± 3.1%29.7%28.7%9.0%9.9%3.4%6.5%2.3%2.0%8.5%1.0%
Sova Haris 20 February 20171,003± 3.0%31.3%31.6%6.4%10.3%6.3%7.2%0.5%3.0%3.4%0.3%
Alpha Research 23 February 20171,024± 3.0%31.5%29.6%6.8%10.8%3.9%5.7%2.6%2.9%6.2%1.9%
AFIS [ permanent dead link ]27 February 20171,200± 3.0%28.2%30.5%6.7%8.5%4.5%5.1%1.3%3.3%12.0%2.3%
Estat 28 February 20171,000± 3.1%29.5%30.2%6.4%8.6%3.9%11.8%2.3%1.5%5.8%0.7%
Gallup 5 March 20171,003± 3.1%28.3%30.2%8.2%11.9%4.3%7.4%2.3%2.6%4.8%1.9%
Institute of Modern Politics 6 March 2017827± 3.1%29.1%29.0%7.3%9.5%3.5%5.8%1.7%4.1%10.0%0.1%
Gallup 15 March 20171,012± 3.0%29.9%30.3%8.1%11.5%4.4%6.5%2.3%2.4%3.6%0.4%
Estat 15 March 20171,000± 3.1%29.7%27.2%8.3%8.6%6.1%10.5%1.3%2.6%5.7%2.5%
AFIS 16 March 20171,010± 3.0%31.2%31.5%8.5%9.9%4.4%5.3%1.1%4.1%4.1%0.3%
Trend 16 March 20171,004± 3.1%29.8%27.9%8.7%10.2%3.8%7.3%2.1%2.6%7.6%1.9%
CAM 16 March 20171,012± 3.1%29.6%29.0%10.8%10.0%3.5%6.2%1.9%1.5%7.5%0.6%
Mediana 20 March 20171,010± 3.0%26.6%27.7%11.1%10.2%5.1%9.6%1.1%4.0%4.6%1.1%
Institute of Modern Politics 20 March 2017805± 3.1%28.5%29.0%9.1%10.1%4.0%9.6%2.0%4.5%3.2%0.5%
Gallup 21 March 20171,012± 3.0%27.1%26.5%9.7%12.3%3.8%8.2%2.4%2.6%7.4%0.6%
Alpha Research 22 March 20171,033± 3.0%31.7%29.1%8.4%8.9%4.0%6.8%2.5%2.9%5.7%2.6%
Exacta 22 March 20171,000± 3.0%31.2%28.1%7.6%10.5%4.0%6.5%1.5%2.6%8.0%3.1%
^ Combined result of the Patriotic Front and Attack.

Results

Results of the election, showing vote strength by electoral district. 2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election - Vote Strength.svg
Results of the election, showing vote strength by electoral district.

Five parties crossed the 4% threshold required to gain seats. GERB maintained their position as the largest party.

2017 Bulgarian National Assembly composition chart.svg
PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
GERB 1,147,29232.65–0.095+11
BSP for Bulgaria 955,49027.19+11.880+41
United Patriots 318,5139.07+4.327–3
Movement for Rights and Freedoms 315,9768.99–5.926–12
Volya 145,6374.15New12New
Reformist Bloc 107,4073.06–5.80–23
Yes, Bulgaria! 101,1772.88New0New
Association DOST 100,4792.86New0New
New Republic 86,9842.48New0New
Alternative for Bulgarian Revival–Movement 21 54,4121.55–2.60–11
Revival 37,8961.08New0New
Party of the Greens 10,1590.29–0.300
Bulgarian Spring 9,2320.26New0New
Forward Bulgaria Movement6,6440.19New0New
Coalition of the Dissatisfied 5,9450.17New0New
Movement for an Equal Public Model 4,9890.14New0New
Bulgarian National Unification 3,9210.11New0New
Bulgarian Democratic Center 3,1300.09New0New
WHO–BL–ZP 2,9160.0800
National Republican Party2,3250.07New0New
Independents5,1160.15–0.000
None of the above87,8502.50–––
Total3,513,490100.00–2400
Valid votes3,513,49095.41
Invalid/blank votes169,0094.59
Total votes3,682,499100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,004,35852.57
Source: CIK

Voter demographics

Gallup exit polling suggested the following demographic breakdown.

Voter demographics [15]
Social group % GERB  % BSP  % OP  % DPS  % Volya  % RB  % Yes!  % DOST  % Others % Lead
Exit poll result3328109433375
Final result32.727.29.19.04.23.12.92.885.5
Gender
Men3125109543396
Women333088434283
Age
18–30321471155841318
30-6034231096542711
60+2644963112818
Highest Level of Education
Lower education2128626220962
Secondary education3426108542298
Higher education3228834670114
Ethnic Group
Bulgarian3430111545194
Turkish14805320119334
Roma2821223170995
Location
Towns and villages282682132010102
Smaller cities2932118542453
Larger cities3527936540118
Sofia332371381201310
How they vote in second round of 2016 presidential election
Rumen Radev - 53,4%948111043221137
Tsetska Tsacheva - 30,5%752434422471
No one/didn't vote - 16,1%2551311871051612

Aftermath and government formation

Boyko Borisov appeared set to resume his tenure as Prime Minister, possibly with a coalition with the United Patriots, [16] and ultimately formed the Third Borisov Government with the United Patriots.

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References

  1. ↑ Bulgaria Heads for Early Elections Balkan Insight, 20 December 2016
  2. ↑ Bulgaria Sliding Toward Caretaker Govt, But with Same Parliament Novinite, 13 November 2016
  3. ↑ Bulgarian PM Borisov resigns, snap parliamentary polls likely Reuters, 14 November 2016
  4. ↑ "Election Campaign Starts in Bulgaria". novinite.com. Novinite JSC. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  5. ↑ Hope, Kerin; Troev, Theodor (27 March 2017). "Former PM Borisov claims victory in Bulgarian election". Financial Times. Retrieved 28 March 2017.(subscription required)
  6. ↑ "Резултати за президент и вицепрезидент на републиката-I Тур". cik.bg. Central Electoral Commission. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Резултати за президент и вицепрезидент на републиката-II Тур". cik.bg. Central Electoral Commission. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Bulgarian PM Borisov tenders his government resignation Reuters, 14 November 2016
  9. ↑ "Bulgarian MPs Accept PM Borisov's Resignation". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Bulgaria IFES
  11. ↑ Central Electoral Commission – Decision #4400 – March 4, 2017
  12. ↑ "Bulgaria's Early Election: Parties' Registration Deadline Expires". novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "Reload Bulgaria Party Not to Participate in March 26 Elections". bta.bg. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "Централна избирателна комисия".
  15. ↑ "Парламентарни избори 2017 – подробни демографски профили и някои наблюдения" [Parliamentary Elections 2017 – Detailed Demographic Profiles and Some Observations] (in Bulgarian). 27 March 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  16. ↑ Georgiev, Ognyan (27 March 2017). "Bulgaria's Borisov is Back — But Coalition May be Shaky". Politico . Retrieved 27 March 2017.
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