2013 Bulgarian parliamentary election: Difference between revisions

Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2013

← 2009 12 May 2013 (2013-05-12)
All 240 seats to the Bulgarian Assembly 121 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	51.3%
First party Second party   Leader Boyko Borisov Sergei Stanishev Party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria BSP Leader since 2006 2001 Last election 117 seats 40 seats Seats won 97 84 Seat change 20 44 Popular vote 1,081,605 942,541 Percentage 30.5% 26.6% Swing 9.2% 8.9%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Lyutvi Mestan Volen Siderov Party DPS Ataka Leader since 2013 2005 Last election 37 seats 21 seats Seats won 36 23 Seat change 1 2 Popular vote 400,466 258,481 Percentage 11.3% 7.3% Swing 2.7% 2.1%
Prime Minister before election Marin Raykov Independent Elected Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski Independent

Politics of Bulgaria
Constitution 1879 1947 1971 1991
Presidency President (list) Rumen Radev Vice President Iliana Iotova
Executive Legislative Government Prime Minister (list) Nikolay Denkov National Assembly Speaker: Rosen Zhelyazkov
Law Judiciary Nationality law Human rights Courts Constitutional Court Supreme Administrative Court Supreme Court of Cassation Office of the General Prosecutor
Major political parties PP GERB DPS Bulgarian Socialist Party Democratic Bulgaria Revival Bulgarian Rise
Recent elections Presidential: 2011 2016 2021 Parliamentary: 2023 2024 (Jun) 2024 (Oct) European: 2014 2019 2024
Administrative divisions Provinces (oblasti) Municipalities (obshtini)
Foreign relations 2007 EU enlargement Kristalina Georgieva Politics of the European Union
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Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 12 May 2013, two months ahead of schedule.^[1] Protests had forced the resignation of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) government in February, leading to the election being moved up.^[2]

The elections resulted in a hung parliament, with no party winning with a majority of seats and voter turnout at its lowest since the end of the Communist era.^[3] Although GERB emerged as the largest party with 97 of the 240 seats, its leader Boyko Borisov later called for an annulment of the results, claiming that there had been illegal campaigning on the day before the election.^[4]

GERB came in power after as a result of the Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2009, after the Bulgarian Socialist Party lost because of alleged involvement in massive corruption, links to criminal groups and siphoning EU funds to private individuals^[5] and organizations. As a result, Bulgaria lost several millions in EU funding, among other anti-corruption measures. ^[6]. In a report from 2008 from the European commission it is stated "High level corruption and organised crime exacerbates these problems of general weakness in administrative and judicial capacity. As highlighted in all reports of the Commission on the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism including the one adopted alongside this Communication, continued commitment and results in the fight against corruption and organised crime is needed . It impacts directly on Bulgaria's administrative capacity and hence its ability to ensure the sound management and efficient delivery of EU funds. Bulgaria needs not only to enhance substantially its administrative capacity but also drastically curb opportunities for high level corruption and effectively fight organized crime." ^[7]. During 2009-2013 years all EU funds for Bulgaria were partially or fully restored, however the living standards for the average Bulgarian were far below the European levels and Bulgarians grew increasingly poorer, compared to their neighbors. High electricity prices and poverty ignited mass protests in February 2013, eventually leading to GERB resignation and preliminary elections.^[8] The elections were originally scheduled to be held in July, but had to be brought forward. The government resigned the day after clashes between the police and protesters led to bloodshed and a number of civilians being badly injured. It was claimed that some protesters had vandalised public property and acted violently towards the police. А caretaker government was appointed on 13 March 2013 by President Rosen Plevneliev to serve until the elections. On 28 February, Plevneliev announced the earliest possible date for the election would be 12 May.^[9]

The 240 members of the National Assembly were elected by two methods. 209 seats were elected by closed list proportional representation in 31 multi-member constituencies.^[10] Parties had to receive at least 4% of the national vote to win any of the proportional seats, which were distributed using the largest remainder method.^[11] A further 31 members were elected from single-member constituencies. Voters had two votes; one for the proportional element, and one for the individual candidates.^[10]

Parties that failed to pass the 4% threshold, but received more than 1% of the national vote were to be allocated annual state subsidies to the amount of 12 leva (€6) per vote received.^[12]

As a result of the protests over electricity prices, the distribution license for Czech utility company ČEZ was revoked. President Rosen Plevneliev told parliament: "I believe that the necessary key changes in the laws should be decided by a new parliament. The decision is to hold elections."^[9]

Former European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva broke from the National Movement for Stability and Progress, formed around Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. She claimed her new party would have significant support even though opinion polls indicated otherwise. She also indicated that it was likely her civil society organisation, Movement "Bulgaria of the Citizens", would become a party as it was "the only way to participate in elections." Rumours suggested she could be a coalition partner to GERB, but she played down such suggestions. In the Socialist party there was infighting over whether Sergei Stanishev or Georgi Parvanov would lead the party.^[13]

Several of the parties were newly-formed by citizens, resulting from the public discontent from the 2013 Bulgarian protests and the months leading up to them. One such party is People's Voice, formed by Hipodil frontman Svetlio Vitkov.^[14] Others were led by citizens using the ticket of parties which were already in existence, as they had not managed to fulfill the strict registration requirements in the two months between the government's resignation and the elections – one such party is the Democratic Citizens' Initiative.^[15] In all cases, the citizens' parties still needed to collect the 7,000 signatures necessary for participating in the elections. ^[16]

Al Jazeera reported voter apathy due to scandals and disappointment with politicians. During the campaign there were also allegations of fraud and an illegal wiretapping scandal. The day before the election, a printing press in Kostinbrod was raided and 350,000 alleged illegally printed ballots were recovered. BSP leader Sergey Stanishev said that this was preparation for fraud with 10 percent of the electoral turnout being falsified for about 25 constituencies. He said: "This is a scandal unseen in Bulgaria so far." There was also allegations of illegal wiretapping of politicians. Prosecutors suggested former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov was responsible with media revealing Borisov's alleged summons of Sofia's chief prosecutor to discuss details of the bribery probe. The OSCE's monitoring delegation member Eoghan Murphy said of the fraudulent ballot papers: "It's not for us to investigate these matters. It is for the Bulgarian authorities, but we will be interested in their assessment of the situation and how they deal with the matter as reported."^[17] In their post-election press-conferences and press interviews, many of the parties stated that the vote should be invalidated because of the so-called "ballot-gate".

The revelation of the illegal ballots was made on the day before the election, designated "day for thought", when no political campaigning is allowed. Most of the major parties held press conferences immediately after the revelation, after which the Prosecutor's office made a formal announcement on the matter.^[18] The Prosecution was then accused by GERB that their announcement "cost them 5-6% of the vote"^[19], and four days later, in their first press conference since election night, Borisov stated that he will officially ask for an invalidation of the vote.^[20]

• The electoral threshold is 4%.^[48]

There were 6.9 million eligible voters. Voting ended at 21:00. There were also over 250 international electoral monitors.^[17] Turnout was 51.3%. Four parties passed the electoral threshold, winning seats in parliament. These four parties account for only 75.76% of all valid ballots cast.

The election was noted for its low voter turnout. After voting finished, about 50 protesters congregated outside the election centre at the Palace of Culture in Sofia demanding GERB not be given a chance to form a new government. The protesters chanted "mafia" and were involved in brief scuffles with the police.^[50] Sergei Stanishev, leader of the second-place Bulgarian Socialist Party, dismissed GERB's chances of forming a government and expressed willingness to negotiate with the other two parties. GERB set a precedent by not holding the traditional post-election press conference for elected parties, and they stayed out of the media for four days until the finalized results came out on Thursday. ^[51]

As the party winning a plurality, GERB have the first opportunity to form a government; however, commentators speculated that it would be difficult for them to obtain sufficient support from other groups.^[52]

On 24 May, Borisov returned the president's mandate to try and form a government. President Rosen Plevneliev then invited the BSP to form a government. Reuters speculated that the BSP and the DPS will put together a cabinet of non-partisan specialists. That will be approved if some of Attack's 23 MPs boycott the vote, as they did for the election of the new Speaker.^[who?][53] Former Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski was appointed prime minister on 29 May.^[54]

• Bulgarian nuclear power referendum, 2013
• List of political parties in Bulgaria
• List of Bulgarian constituencies