November 1923 Bulgarian parliamentary election

November 1923 Bulgarian parliamentary election

←  April 1923 18 November 1923 1927  →
All 247 seats in the National Assembly 124 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	86.21%
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– DA–BRSDP Aleksandar Tsankov Yanko Sakazov 63.76 200 +183 BZNS–BKP Nikola Velev [a] Dimitar Blagoev 22.10 38 −190 NLP Dimo Kyorchev 12.56 9 +9 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Aleksandar Tsankov Tsankov II (DA+BRSDP) Aleksandar Tsankov Tsankov II (DA+BRSDP)

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 18 November 1923 ^[2] to elect members of the XXI Ordinary National Assembly. The elections followed the 9 June coup. The result was a victory for the ruling Democratic Alliance, which won 200 of the 247 seats. Voter turnout was 86%. ^[3]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Democratic Alliance–BRSDP	639,881	63.76	200
	Bulgarian Agrarian National Union	132,160	13.17	19
	National Liberal Party	120,640	12.02	7
	BZNS–BKP [b]	81,180	8.09	19
	Bulgarian Communist Party	8,437	0.84	0
	National Liberal Party–DA Breakaways [c]	5,371	0.54	2
	National Liberal Party breakaways [d]	3,869	0.39	0
	Craftsmen's Party	2,751	0.27	0
	DA breakaways – United People's Progressive Party	1,843	0.18	0
	DA breakaways – Democratic Party	1,420	0.14	0
	Others	5,961	0.59	0
Total		1,003,513	100.00	247
Valid votes		1,003,513	91.52
Invalid/blank votes		92,964	8.48
Total votes		1,096,477	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		1,271,890	86.21
Source: National Statistical Institute [4]

Aftermath

The ruling coalition won a majority and Aleksandar Tsankov remained Prime Minister. In February 1924 the Broad Socialists left the government, although a faction led by minister Kazasov opposed the decision and later founded the Socialist Federation party. In early 1924 large factions of the former Democratic and Radical parties which had merged into the DA broke away to re-establish their parties. ^[1]

In 1924 the government rolled back many reforms implemented by the Agrarians and approved the authoritarian State Protection Act  [ bg ]. Despite reaffirming the Neuilly and Niš agreements, the government had a tense relationship with neighbouring Yugoslavia and Greece. In 1925 the Incident at Petrich took place. Following the 1925 St. Nedelya Church bombing, the State Protection Act was amended and expanded to allow death sentences for those "responsible for dangerous acts and those who assisted them", many opposition leaders were imprisoned and killed. These harsh measures and international isolation resulted in the moderate wing of the remaining DA taking a leading role in the party and forcing Tsankov's resignation. He became Chariman of Parliament and Andrey Lyapchev succeeded him as Prime Minister. ^[5] Because of the authoritarian measures, close relationship with Fascist Italy and Tsankov later founding the nazi-inspired National Social Movement, he and his governments have often being characterized as fascist. ^{[6] [7]}

Lyapchev's government restored freedom of speech and press and issued an amnesty for many political prisoners. During its term the first post-war foreign loan (the Refugee Loan  [ bg ]) was taken in order to improve conditions for Bulgarian refugees who had settled in the country after World War I. ^[8]

Noets

1. Due to many imprisonments and persecution, there was significant leadership instability in the BZNS. Nikola Velev was the leader of the October 1923 BZNS ruling committee, which was invalidated on 25 November, when the November committee approved and formalized the authority of the June committee led by the imprisoned Georgi Markov. ^[1]
2. 11 BZNS, 8 BKP.
3. 1 seat for the NLP, 1 for DA
4. 713 votes for Genadiev's National Unity party.

References

1. "Политически партии, организации и движения в България и техните лидери" (in Bulgarian).
2. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p368 ISBN   978-3-8329-5609-7
3. Nohlen & Stöver, p380
4. Statistique des elections des deputes pour la XXI-eme Assemblee nationale ordinaire. NSI. 1928. pp. 9, 16, 90, 92.
5. Tsurakov, Angel. Encyclopedia of Governments, National Assemblies, and Assassinations in Bulgaria. Sofia, Trud Publishing House, 2008. ISBN 954-528-790-X, p. 156-159.
6. Philip Rees, Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890
7. Roger Griffin, The Nature of Fascism, London: Routledge, 1993, p. 210
8. Tsurakov, Angel. Encyclopedia of Governments, National Assemblies, and Assassinations in Bulgaria. Sofia, Trud Publishing House, 2008. ISBN 954-528-790-X, p. 160-162.