1908 Bulgarian parliamentary election

1908 Bulgarian parliamentary election

←  1903 25 May 1908 1911 (Jun)  →
All 203 seats in the National Assembly 102 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	50.19%
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Democratic Aleksandar Malinov 61.85 166 +159 BZNS Dimitar Dragiev  [ bg ] 11.07 23 +23 LP (Radoslavists) Vasil Radoslavov 4.90 5 −4 People's Party Ivan Geshov 8.39 4 −21 Progressive Liberal Stoyan Danev 5.66 2 −4 People's Liberal Nikola Genadiev  [ bg ] 3.95 1 −131 Ind. Democrats 0.17 1 +1 Independents 0.91 1 0 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Aleksandar Malinov Malinov I (Democratic) Aleksandar Malinov Malinov I (Democratic)

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 25 May 1908 ^[1] to elect members of the XIV Ordinary National Assembly. The result was a victory for the Democratic Party, which won 166 of the 203 seats. Voter turnout was 50%. ^[2]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Democratic Party	586,352	61.85	166	+159
	Bulgarian Agrarian National Union	104,979	11.07	23	+23
	Liberal Party	46,431	4.90	5	–4
	People's Party	79,530	8.39	4	–21
	Progressive Liberal Party	53,631	5.66	2	–4
	People's Liberal Party	37,440	3.95	1	–131
	Independent Democrats	1,638	0.17	1	+1
	Radical Democratic Party	13,787	1.45	0	0
	Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party	8,101	0.85	0	0
	Young Liberals Party	6,545	0.69	0	–3
	Independent Liberals	75	0.01	0	–1
	Liberal Agrarians	895	0.09	0	New
	Independents	8,627	0.91	1	0
Total		948,031	100.00	203	+14
Total votes		467,607	–
Registered voters/turnout		931,633	50.19
Source: National Statistical Institute [3]

By-elections

One MP died and several MPs were elected in more than one constituency and were required to choose which one to represent when the Assembly convened, resulting in thirty two seats being vacated. Afterwards four results were annulled, one MP resigned and another one died. By-elections were held on 12 April 1909 and 11 July 1910. ^[3]

Party		Seats
	Democratic Party	166
	Bulgarian Agrarian National Union	19
	People's Party	7
	Liberal Party	5
	Progressive Liberal Party	3
	People's Liberal Party	1
	Independent Democrats	1
	Vacant	1
Total		203

Aftermath

Malinov's first government, left to right: Andrey Lyapchev, Danail Nikolaev, Nikola Mushanov, Malinov, Todor Krastev , Stefan Paprikov  [ bg ], Ivan Salabashev  [ bg ], Mihail Takev  [ bg ]

The ruling Democratic Party won a majority and its leader Malinov continued his term as PM. The government abolished many of the authoritarian measures of the previous government and oversaw electoral reform and the Bulgarian Declaration of Independence. As a result it prepared constitutional amendments, changing the monarch's title from Prince to Tsar and increasing his powers at the expense of the National Assembly. ^[4] In light of negotiations with Russia regarding a possible future war of national liberation Tsar Ferdinand caused the fall of the government and appointed a more Russophile one led by Ivan Geshov in 1911 and scheduled elections for a Grand National Assembly to approve the prepared amendments. ^[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 XIV-eme Assemblee nationale ordinaire. NSI. 1910. pp. 13, 14, 25.
4. "Политически партии, организации и движения в България и техните лидери" (in Bulgarian).
5. Tsurakov, Angel. Encyclopedia of Governments, National Assemblies, and Assassinations in Bulgaria. Sofia, Trud Publishing House, 2008. ISBN 954-528-790-X, p. 100-103.