1879 Eastern Rumelian election

1879 Eastern Rumelian election

7 October 1879 1881  →

36 of the 56 seats in the Regional Assembly  ( bg ) 29 seats needed for a majority

Party Seats Bulgarians 32 Greeks 2 Turks 2 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Parliamentary elections were held for the first time in Eastern Rumelia on 7 October 1879. ^[1]

Background

The autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia, established by the Treaty of Berlin and the Eastern Rumelian Constitution  ( bg ), was headed by a Sublime Porte-chosen Governor-general  ( bg ) who led and, alongside the Sultan, appointed the Directorate (government)  ( bg ) of the province. He additionally appointed 10 members of the legislature, the Regional Assembly  ( bg ), with a further 10 representatives of the judiciary, ethnic and religious minorities serving as ex officio members. The remaining 36 MPs were elected for 4 year terms, with half the seats up for reelection every 2 years. The Assembly also elected an additional legislative body, the Standing Committee  ( bg ).

Results

As the election was held on a non-partisan basis, candidates were divided predominantly on ethnic lines. 32 of the elected and 40 of the total MPs were ethnic Bulgarians.

Party		Seats
	Bulgarians	32
	Greeks	2
	Turks	2
Total		36
Source: Statelova [1]

Aftermath

Although initially non-partisan, a dominant faction led by the Chariman of the Standing Committee  ( bg ) Ivan Geshov began to form. By the 1881 election most of its opposition had consolidated into the Liberal Party. ^[2]

References

1. Statelova, Elena. Eastern Rumelia (1879/1885) economy, politics, culture. Fatherland Front Publishing House  ( bg ), 1983, p. 75-76.
2. "The Parties in Eastern Rumelia". rdp-bg.org.