1902 Bulgarian parliamentary election

1902 Bulgarian parliamentary election

←  1901 17 February 1902 1903  →
All 189 seats in the National Assembly 95 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	49.79%
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Progressive Liberal Stoyan Danev 30.09 82 +51 People's Party Ivan Geshov 20.27 32 +7 People's Liberal Dimitar Petkov 11.32 9 −22 LP (Radoslavists) Vasil Radoslavov 6.99 8 +3 BZNS Yanko Zabunov  [ bg ] 6.11 12 −1 Democratic Petko Karavelov 5.88 8 −19 BSDP Dimitar Blagoev 4.76 8 +6 Young Democratic Naycho Tsanov  [ bg ] 2.29 6 New Ind. Liberals 1.04 1 New Turkish Group 0.86 4 New Ind. Democrats 0.78 1 −1 Conservatives 0.51 2 0 Democratic-Republican 0.50 1 +1 Undetermined – 2.81 2 +2 Independents – 5.36 13 −11 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Stoyan Danev Danev I (PLP) Stoyan Danev Danev II (PLP)

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 17 February 1902 ^[1] to elect members of the XII Ordinary National Assembly. The result was a victory for the ruling Progressive Liberal Party. Voter turnout was 50%. ^[2]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Progressive Liberal Party	298,310	30.09	82	+51
	People's Party	200,972	20.27	32	+7
	People's Liberal Party	112,242	11.32	9	–22
	Liberal Party (Radoslavists)	69,252	6.99	8	+3
	Bulgarian Agrarian National Union	60,551	6.11	12	–1
	Democratic Party	58,299	5.88	8	–19
	Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party	47,172	4.76	8	+6
	Young Democratic Party	22,698	2.29	6	New
	Independent Liberals	10,282	1.04	1	+1
	Turkish group	8,570	0.86	4	New
	Indepdendent Democrats	7,685	0.78	1	–1
	Conservative Party	5,055	0.51	2	0
	Democratic-Republican	4,929	0.50	1	+1
	Independent People's Liberals	2,673	0.27	0	New
	Reformists	1,131	0.11	0	–5
	Others	601	0.06	0	0
	Undetermined	27,858	2.81	2	+2
	Independents	53,142	5.36	13	–11
Total		991,422	100.00	189	+22
Total votes		404,497	–
Registered voters/turnout		812,467	49.79
Source: National Statistical Institute [3] [4]

By-elections

Several MPs were elected in more than one constituency and were required to choose which one to represent when the Assembly convened, resulting in ten seats being vacated. By-elections were held on 1 September 1902. This resulted in the Progressive Liberal Party becoming the largest party with 89 seats. ^[3]

Party		Seats
	Progressive Liberal Party	89
	People's Party	28
	Bulgarian Agrarian National Union	12
	People's Liberal Party	8
	Liberal Party	7
	Democratic Party	7
	Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party	7
	Young Democratic Party	6
	Turkish group	4
	Conservative Party	2
	Independent Democrats	1
	Democratic-Republican	1
	Independent Liberals	1
	Undetermined	3
	Independents	13
Total		189
Source: National Statistical Institute [3]

Aftermath

The ruling pro-Russian PLP under Prime Minister Stoyan Danev continued in a minority government, with the support of the NP. Danev's governments implemented judicial, trade, taxation and administrative reforms. Due to the diplomatic crisis with Romania following the assassination of Ștefan Mihăileanu by the VMOK, the government did not support the VMOK organized Gorna Dzhumaya Uprising. After its defeat Danev, backed by Russia, proposed reforms in Ottoman controlled Macedonia. The government also signed a secret defense protocol was signed with Russia in 1902. The government secured a loan with the Paribas Bank in June 1902, which helped resolve the financial crisis and was used to pay Bulgaria's occupational debt to Russia. Following a dispute between Prince Ferdinand and National enlightenment minister Aleksandar Radev  [ bg ] in early May 1903, the government resigned. Ferdinand appointed an NLP government led by independent Racho Petrov and scheduled a snap election for October 1903. ^{[5] [6] [5]}

References

1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p368 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p378
3. Statistique des elections des deputes pour la XII-eme Assemblee nationale ordinaire. NSI. 1904. pp. 11, 12, 203.
4. Statistique des elections des deputes pour la XI-eme Assemblee nationale ordinaire. NSI. 1904. pp. 11, 12, 203.
5. Kumanov, Milen. Political organizations and movements in Bulgaria and their leaders 1879-1949, Sofia 1991.
6. Tsurakov, Angel. Encyclopedia of Governments, National Assemblies, and Assassinations in Bulgaria. Sofia, Trud Publishing House, 2008. ISBN 954-528-790-X, p. 80-86.