2014 European Parliament election in Bulgaria

Last updated

2014 European Parliament election in Bulgaria
Flag of Bulgaria.svg
  2009 25 May 2014 2019  

All 17 Bulgarian seats to the European Parliament
Turnout35.84% Decrease2.svg [1]
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Tomislav Donchev 2017-11-20 (cropped).jpg
Sergey Stanishev 2009 elections diff crop.jpg
Filiz Hyusmenova MEP.jpg
Leader Tomislav Donchev Sergei Stanishev Filiz Hyusmenova
Party GERB BSP DPS
Alliance EPP S&D ALDE
Last election5 seats, 24.36%4 seats, 18.50%3 seats, 14.14%
Seats won644
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Steady2.svgIncrease2.svg 1
Popular vote680,838424,037386,725
Percentage30.40%18.93%17.26%
SwingIncrease2.svg 6.04Increase2.svg 0.44Increase2.svg 3.12

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Nikolay Barekov 20171031.jpg
Meglena Kuneva 2013.jpg
Volen Siderov Flickr.jpg
Leader Nikolay Barekov Meglena Kuneva Volen Siderov
Party BBTVMRO RB Attack
Alliance ECR EPP NI
Last election1 seat, 7.95%2 seats, 11.96%
Seats won210
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 2
Popular vote238,629144,53266,210
Percentage10.66%6.45%2.96%
SwingNewDecrease2.svg 1.50Decrease2.svg 9.00

An election of the Members of the European Parliament from Bulgaria to the European Parliament was held on 25 May 2014 [2] as part of the larger European Parliament election. After a decision by the European Council in 2013, Bulgaria was allocated 17 seats in the European Parliament for the Eighth European Parliament. [3]

Contents

The election campaign officially began on 25 April 2014, one month before the election day. [4]

Background

The elections come a year after the 2013 parliamentary elections in Bulgaria that resulted in a minority parliament. Since the election winner, GERB, failed to form a government the Socialists and the DPS formed a coalition government led by Plamen Oresharski. The European elections of 2014 are considered to be of importance as they will reflect the popularity of the current government.

Changes in electoral law

In February 2014 Bulgarian MPs voted to lower the preferential-vote threshold for the election from 6% to 5% of each list's total votes. [5]

Implicit electoral threshold still remains equal to the Hare Quota, which is about 5.88% of the total valid votes. [6]

Opinion polls

Polls include Bulgarian parliamentary election polls if European parliamentary election polling numbers are unavailable.

Pre election campaign

Election campaign

SourceDate GERB BSP DPS Attack Reformist Bloc BBT NFSB ABV OthersTotal
Institute for Modern Politics 26 April 201417.6%15.9%6.2%2.5%4.5%4.9%3.0%4.5%7.0%66.1%
Sova Haris 28 April 201417.0%19.2%6.2%2.3%4.1%5.5%1.4%2.3%0.3%58.3%
Center for Analysis and Marketing 30 April 201414.8%13.3%6.8%1.7%3.0%2.7%2.1%0.7%45.1%
Mediana 13 May 201417.1%20.5%7.3%3.5%4.3%9.8%3.6%2.9%69.0%
Institute for Modern Politics 13 May 201419.3%20.5%7.0%4.5%2.5%7.5%1.4%3.5%2.6%68.8%
Exacta Research 19 May 201428.5%24.0%11.3%4.1%6.2%11.1%3.8%5.8%94.8%
Alpha Research 20 May 201427.3%23.6%13.4%4.1%5.9%10.5%3.9%5.3%94.0%
SourceDate GERB BSP DPS Attack Reformist Bloc BBT NFSB ABV OthersTotal

Exit polls

SourceDate GERB BSP DPS Attack Reformist Bloc BBT NFSB ABV OthersTotal
Mediana 25 May 201427.9%20.2%14.5%7.3%11.6%81.5%
Alpha Research 25 May 201428.4%21.6%15.5%6.8%9.9%82.2%
Gallup International 25 May 201428.6%19.8%14.9%6.4%11.1%80.8%

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
GERB 680,83830.406+1
Coalition for Bulgaria 424,03718.9440
Movement for Rights and Freedoms 386,72517.274+1
Bulgaria Uncensored 238,62910.662New
Reformist Bloc 144,5326.4510
Alternative for Bulgarian Revival 90,0614.020New
National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria 68,3763.050New
Attack 66,2102.960–2
People's Voice 22,4401.000New
Coalition KOD (OB–NDSV–SDP)20,4870.910–2
The Greens 12,5470.5600
Bulgarian Left 11,0140.490New
Blue Unity10,7860.480New
Bulgarian Communist Party9,3180.420New
Green Party 7,9890.360New
BASTA7,3300.330New
Party of Greens5,2180.230New
Union of Communists in Bulgaria 3,2170.140New
Bulgarian National-Patriotic Party 3,0000.130New
Christian Democratic Party2,9640.130New
Nationalist Parties of Bulgaria (Svoboda–Libertas Bulgaria)2,4990.110New
Independents21,2130.9500
Total2,239,430100.00170
Valid votes2,239,43094.81
Invalid/blank votes122,5365.19
Total votes2,361,966100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,599,59935.79
Source: CIK

Elected MEPs

The following 17 MEP were elected: [7]

European People's Party–European Democrats – 7 seats:

Party of European Socialists – 4 seats:

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe – 4 seats:

Declined:

European Conservatives and Reformists [10] – 2 seats

Media expenses

According to a survey taken by the NGO Institute for Public Environment Development, the following table represents the media campaign expenses of the main parties: [11]

PartySpending (BGN)Spending per seat
Bulgaria Without Censorship 1,085,655542,827.50
Bulgarian Socialist Party 740,000185,000
Attack 648,000Did not win any seats
Reformist Bloc 360,000360,000
Movement for Rights and Freedoms 294,50073,625
Alternative for Bulgarian Revival 229,318Did not win any seats
GERB 133,27122,211.80

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Bulgaria</span>

The politics of Bulgaria take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the prime minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movement for Rights and Freedoms</span> Bulgarian political party

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms was a centrist political party in Bulgaria with a support base among ethnic minority communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Bulgarian parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 25 June 2005, for the 240 members of the National Assembly. According to exit polls, the Socialists had a lead with around 31%, but without a majority, necessitating the creation of a coalition. The National Movement for Simeon II, in power before the election, was in second place, with around 21%. Following the election, Socialist Party leader Sergei Stanishev became prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 European Parliament election in Bulgaria</span>

European Parliament elections were held in Bulgaria on 20 May 2007. It was the country's first European election, having joined the Union on 1 January of that year. The country still had 18 MEPs, no change from before the election. Until Bulgaria could hold these elections, the country was represented by MEPs appointed by the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanishev Government</span>

The eighty-ninth cabinet of Bulgaria, also known as the Three-party coalition cabinet and the Stanishev Government, ruled from August 17, 2005, to July 27, 2009. The cabinet was formed with the coalition of the three leading at that time: BSP, NDSV and DPS, in order of their parliamentary representation. Their parliamentary representation also determined the number of cabinet appointments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Bulgarian parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 12 May 2013, two months ahead of schedule. Protests had forced the resignation of the GERB government in February, leading to the election being moved up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mihail Mikov</span>

Mihail Raykov Mikov is a Bulgarian politician who was Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) from 2014 to 2016. He is a parliamentarian with six consecutive terms as a deputy in the National Assembly. His career in the legislature culminated in his election as Chairman of the 42nd National Assembly on May 21, 2013. Mikov was Minister of Interior from 24 April 2008 to 29 July 2009 in Sergei Stanishev's government. Currently he is the leader of the Parliamentary Group of BSP Left Bulgaria in the 43rd National Assembly, the coalition led by the socialist party. Mihail Mikov was elected as Chairman of the BSP on 27 July 2014, succeeding Sergei Stanishev. He won a run-off against outgoing Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev with a final tally of 377-333.

The Oresharski Government was the ninety-second cabinet of Bulgaria which took office on 29 May 2013. The government, led by Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, is one of technocrats created following the 2013 election. The cabinet was dissolved on 6 August 2014 to make way for a caretaker government that would lead Bulgaria through early elections in October of the same year.

Delyan Slavchev Peevski is a Bulgarian politician, oligarch, sanctioned by Magnitsky Act by UK and US for corruption, bribery and embezzlement also a former media mogul who has served as a Member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria since 2009. A member of the DPS party, he was elected for a short time in 2013 as the Director of the State Agency for National Security, which triggered long lasting national protests. Peevski was also unanimously elected in 2024 as the co-leader of the DPS party alongside Dzhevdet Chakarov.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Bulgarian electoral code referendum</span>

A referendum on introducing electronic voting was held in Bulgaria on 25 October 2015 alongside local elections. Although the referendum resulted was approved by a wide margin, turnout was far below the required threshold to make its result binding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reformist Bloc</span> 2013–2017 Bulgarian political alliance

The Reformist Bloc was a centre-right electoral alliance in Bulgaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikolay Barekov</span> Bulgarian journalist and politician

Nikolay Tihomirov Barekov (Bulgarian: Николай Тихомиров Бареков; born 16 October 1972) is a Bulgarian journalist, politician, and businessman. Since January 2014 he has been the leader of the political party Bulgaria Without Censorship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Bulgarian parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 5 October 2014 to elect the 43rd National Assembly. GERB remained the largest party, winning 84 of the 240 seats with around a third of the vote. A total of eight parties won seats, the first time since the beginning of democratic elections in 1990 that more than seven parties entered parliament. Boyko Borisov then became prime minister as head of a coalition with the Reformist Bloc and with outside support from the Patriotic Front and the Alternative for Bulgarian Revival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reload Bulgaria</span> Political party in Bulgaria

Reload Bulgaria is a populist political party in Bulgaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel Dzhambazki</span> Bulgarian politician

Angel Chavdarov Dzhambazki is a Bulgarian nationalist politician who served as Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2024. He is also a co-chairman of VMRO, having joined the nationalist party's youth organization in 1997 and gradually progressed through its ranks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sotir Tsatsarov</span>

Sotir Stefanov Tsatsarov is a Bulgarian jurist who served as the chief prosecutor of Bulgaria from December 2012 until December 2019. Tsatsarov allegedly owes his appointment to Delyan Peevski, a media mogul and member of Bulgaria's Parliament, and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. His time in office has been overshadowed by controversial investigations of political opposition leaders, famous businessmen, and independent media. Prominent Bulgarian jurists, including the heads of Bulgaria's main appellate courts, have asked for his resignation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election</span>

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. Borisov resigned following the defeat of Tsetska Tsacheva, the candidate of his GERB party, in the November 2016 presidential elections. The official election campaign began on 24 February.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Bulgarian general election</span>

General elections were held in Bulgaria on 14 November 2021 to elect both the President and the National Assembly. They were the country's third parliamentary elections in 2021, with no party able to form a government after the elections in April and July. A second round of the presidential elections were held on 21 November 2021 as no candidate was able to receive a majority of the vote in the first round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election</span> Political event in a country

Early parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 9 June 2024, to elect members of the National Assembly. The election coincided with the European Parliament election on the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">October 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election</span>

Early parliamentary elections are expected to be held in Bulgaria in 27 October 2024, after all three attempts to form a government following the latest June 2024 elections failed. They will be the country's sixth snap elections since 2021.

References

  1. "Results of the 2014 European elections - Results by country - Bulgaria - European Parliament".
  2. "2014 European elections: national rules" (PDF). InfoGraphic European Parliamentary Research Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  3. "Bulgaria". European Parliament Online. European Parliament. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  4. "Bulgarian President Calls for Clean Election Campaign". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  5. "Bulgarian MPs Agree on 5% Preferential-Vote Threshold for EP Elections". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  6. "The 2009 European Parliament Elections: from Votes to Seats in 27 Ways" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  7. "The New 17 Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  8. "Последни данни от ЦИК: ГЕРБ – 30.41%, Светослав Малинов ще е евродепутат". dnevnik.bg. Associated Press and Reuters. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  9. "DPS's Delyan Peevski Gives up MEP Position". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Archived from the original on 26 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  10. "MEPs Barekov, Dzhambazki to Join ECR Group in European Parliament". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  11. 1 2 "'Bulgaria without Censorship' Party Had Costliest Media Campaign". Novinite.com. Soifa News Agency. Retrieved 1 June 2014.