1903 Bulgarian parliamentary election

1903 Bulgarian parliamentary election

←  1902 19 October 1903 1908  →
All 189 seats in the National Assembly 95 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	41.17%
Party Leader Seats +/– People's Liberal Dimitar Petkov 132 +123 People's Party Ivan Geshov 25 −7 LP (Radoslavists) Vasil Radoslavov 9 +1 Democratic Aleksandar Malinov 7 −1 Progressive Liberal Stoyan Danev 6 −76 Tonchevist Liberals Dimitar Tonchev  [ bg ] 3 New Ind. People's Liberals 2 New Ind. Liberals 1 0 Conservatives 1 −1 Undetermined – 2 0 Independents – 1 −12 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Racho Petrov Petrov II (Ind. + NLP) Racho Petrov Petrov II (Ind. + NLP)

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 19 October 1903 to elect members of the XIII Ordinary National Assembly. Voter turnout was 41%. ^[1] The result was a victory for the ruling People's Liberal Party. ^[2]

Results

By-elections were held to fill vacant seats on 19 October 1903, 29 February 1904, 20 March 1905, 16 March 1906 and 1 April 1907. This resulted in the People's Liberal Party winning 132 seats.

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	People's Liberal Party			132	+123
	People's Party			25	–7
	Liberal Party (Radoslavists)			9	+1
	Democratic Party			7	–1
	Progressive Liberal Party			6	–76
	Tonchevist Liberals			3	New
	Independent People's Liberals			2	New
	Independent Liberals			1	0
	Conservative Party			1	–1
	Undetermined			2	0
	Independents			1	–12
Total				189	0
Total votes		345,682	–
Registered voters/turnout		839,605	41.17
Source: National Statistical Institute [2]

Aftermath

The elected XIII National Assembly was the only Assembly in Bulgarian democratic history to serve a full regularly scheduled five-year term as provided for in the 1893 constitutional amendments, since the term of the Assembly was reduced to four years in 1911. The ruling NLP won a majority and formed the first four governments during the Assembly's term, which were led by Racho Petrov (1903–1906), Dimitar Petkov (1906–1907), Dimitar Stanchov (interim in 1907) and Petar Gudev (1907–1908). They were characterised by repressive measures against the opposition and the increased political influence of the monarch Prince Ferdinand and are sometimes referred to as the "Second Stambolovist regime". ^[3]

In late 1903 the government issued an amnesty for several Radoslavist former ministers, who had been imprisoned that June. Following the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising (resulting in significant immigration of Bulgarians from the Ottoman Empire) and the failed March 1904 Serbian-Ottoman talks, the government began funding the VMRO. The industrial sector and international trade saw record growth and the army was significantly expanded and rearmed with Schnedier guns and canons, by 1906 military expenses represented close to 30% of the state budget. Petrov resigned after several corruption scandals, notably the Charles-Jean affair  [ bg ] and was succeeded as PM by NLP leader Petkov. There was significant unrest and strikes, culminating in the University crisis  [ bg ]. Following Petkov's assassination in early 1907, there was a leadership struggle within the NLP. Nikola Genadiev  [ bg ], the new party leader, agreed to have his two main opponents (Dobri Petkov  [ bg ] and Petar Gudev) placed in high positions of power as Chairman of Parliament and PM respectively. The NLP governments' main policies included trade protectionism, large-scale railway and road construction, centralization and property rights laws.

In January 1908 Prince Ferdinand tasked Democratic Party leader Aleksandar Malinov with forming a new government and called elections for May 1908. ^{[4] [5]}

References

1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p368 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Statistique des elections des deputes pour la XIII-eme Assemblee nationale ordinaire. NSI. 1909. p. 182.
3. "Предизвикателствата на опозиционния статус. Прогресивнолибералната партия (1903–1911)" (in Bulgarian).
4. Tsurakov, Angel. Encyclopedia of Governments, National Assemblies, and Assassinations in Bulgaria. Sofia, Trud Publishing House, 2008. ISBN 954-528-790-X, p. 87-95.
5. Kumanov, Milen. Political organizations and movements in Bulgaria and their leaders 1879-1949, Sofia 1991.