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2024 European Parliament election in Bulgaria

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2024 European Parliament election in Bulgaria

← 2019 9 June 2024 2029 →

All 17 Bulgarian seats in the European Parliament
TurnoutIncrease 33.78%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Rosen Zhelyazkov.png
Djevdet Chakarov (46NS).png
Official Portrait of Nikola Minchev.png
Leader Rosen Zhelyazkov Dzhevdet Chakarov Nikola Minchev
Party GERB–SDS DPS PP–DB
Alliance EPP Renew Renew-EPP[a]
Last election 6 seats, 30.40% 3 seats, 16.55% 1 seat, 6.45%
Seats won 5 3 3
Seat change Decrease 1 Steady Increase 2
Popular vote 474,059 295,092 290,865
Percentage 23.55% 14.66% 14.45%
Swing Decrease 6.85% Decrease 1.89% Increase 8.00%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
1719413156880 20240626 STOYANOV Stanislav BG 007.jpg
1718810700242 20240619 VIGENIN Kristian BG 012.jpg
1718705240687 20240617 VALCHEV Ivaylo BG 007.jpg
Leader Stanislav Stoyanov Kristian Vigenin Ivaylo Vulchev
Party Revival BSP ITN
Alliance ESN S&D ECR[b]
Last election 0 seats, 1.04% 5 seats, 24.26%
Seats won 3 2 1
Seat change Increase 3 Decrease 3 New
Popular vote 281,434 141,178 121,572
Percentage 13.98% 7.01% 6.04%
Swing Increase 12.94% Decrease 17.25% New

Results by national constituency

The 2024 European Parliament election in Bulgaria was held on 9 June 2024 as part of the 2024 European Parliament election. This was the country’s fifth parliamentary election since its accession to the EU in 2007, and the first to take place after Brexit.[4] Bulgaria also held a separate national parliamentary election that day.

Electoral system

[edit]

The 17 members are elected through semi-open list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency with seats allocated through largest remainder method. The threshold is the number of valid votes divided by the number of members of the European parliament from Bulgaria,[5] which is roughly 5.9%.[6]

All people who have Bulgarian citizenship and a main residence in Bulgarian, Bulgarian citizens without residence in Bulgaria (Bulgarians abroad) and other Union citizens if their main residence is in Bulgaria are entitled to vote in the European elections in Bulgaria. In addition, those eligible to vote must turn 18 years old by election day at the latest and be registered in the voter register/European voter register of a local Bulgarian administration on the deadline date. Voting is compulsory for Bulgarian citizens but the obligation is not enforced and no penalties are envisaged for those who don't vote.[7]

Outgoing delegation

[edit]

The table shows the detailed composition of the Bulgarian seats at the European Parliament as of 24 January 2024.

EP Group Seats Party Seats MEPs
European People's Party
7 / 17
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria 5
Union of Democratic Forces 1
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria 1
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
5 / 17
Bulgarian Socialist Party 5
Renew Europe
3 / 17
Movement for Rights and Freedoms 3
European Conservatives and Reformists
2 / 17
VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement 2
Total 17
Source: European Parliament

MEPs not standing for re-election

[edit]
Name Party Date announced Source
Petar Vitanov PES-affiliated independent politician (ex BSP member) 24 April 2024 [8]
Ivo Hristov BSP 29 April 2024 [9]
Sergey Stanishev BSP 30 April 2024 [10]
Aleksandar Yordanov SDS 7 May 2024 [11]
Atidzhe Alieva-Veli DPS 7 May 2024

Running parties

[edit]

Contesting parties and coalitions

[edit]

Below is the official list of parties and coalitions that registered lists for the European Parliamentary elections.[12]

# Party or coalition Ideology Lead Candidate 2019 result
Votes (%) Seats
1 There is Such a People Right-wing populism Ivaylo Vulchev Did not exist
2 Peoples Voice Right-wing populism Svetoslav Vitkov 0.31%
0 / 17
3 Blue Bulgaria National Movement for Stability and Progress Liberalism Tsveta Kirilova 1.09%[c]
0 / 17
Conservative Union of the Right National conservatism
Anti-communism
DNP
Bulgarian Democratic Forum [bg] National conservatism
Anti-communism
Movement for Democratic Action-DZ Liberal conservatism
Bulgaria for Citizens Movement Liberalism
Conservative Bulgaria National conservatism 1.15%
0 / 17
Radical-Democratic Party Social conservatism
Anti-communism
Rise
Bulgarian New Democracy Liberal conservatism DNP
Agrarian People's Union Agrarianism
Conservatism
4 We Citizens Bulgarian Spring [bg] Left-wing nationalism Plamen Paskov [bg] DNP
Bulgarian Workers-Peasant Party Marxism-Leninism
Competence, Responsibility and Truth [bg] Populism
Euroscepticism
Natsiya  [bg] Ultranationalism
Hard Euroscepticism
5 Independent candidate Kuzman Iliev DNP
6 Bulgarian Voice Bulgarian Voice Bulgarian nationalism Georgi Popov Did not exist
Alternative for Bulgaria National conservatism
7 Coalition of the Rose [bg] Bulgarian Social Democracy-EuroLeft Social Democracy Aleksandr Tomov DNP
United Block of Labour [bg] Social democracy
Labourism
Patriotism 2000
8 Center Svovoda [bg] Bulgarian nationalism Vasil Bozhkov DNP
Bulgarian Agrarian Party Agrarianism
National Movement "Center" Anti-corruption
Populism
Did not exist
9 Solidary Bulgaria Bulgarian Left Democratic socialism Vanya Grigorova DNP
United Social-Democracy [bg] Social democracy
Stand Up.BG Social democracy
Left-wing populism
Did not exist
Solidarity Bulgaria Labourism
Social democracy
0.48%[d]
0 / 17
10 Unification Centrism
Liberalism
Yani Andreev Did not exist
11 Bulgarian National Unification Bulgarian nationalism
National conservatism
Dimitar Bunov 0.12%
0 / 17
12 Revival Ultra-nationalism
Social conservatism
Stanislav Stoyanov 1.04%
0 / 17
13 Morality, Unity, Honour Anti-corruption
Social conservatism
Radostin Vasilev Did not exist
14 PP–DB We Continue the Change Liberalism
Anti-corruption
Nikola Minchev Did not exist
Volt Bulgaria European federalism
Pro-Europeanism
0.18%
0 / 17
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria Conservatism
Anti-communism
6.06%
1 / 17
Yes, Bulgaria! Liberalism
Anti-corruption
15 People's Party "Truth and Only the Truth" [bg] Anti-vaccination
Conspiracy theory support
Ventsislav Angelov [bg] Did not exist
16 Bulgarian Rise National conservatism Daniela Vezieva [bg] Did not exist
17 Citizens Block Bulgarian Democratic Union-Radicals Bulgarian nationalism Ivan Geshev DNP
Party of Bulgarian Women Women's issues
Citizens Block Anti-corruption
Social conservatism
Did not exist
18 Society for a New Bulgaria [bg] Social conservatism Dimitar Tashev [bg] DNP
19 The Left! Alternative for Bulgarian Revival Social democracy
Moderate social conservatism
Valeri Zhablyanov [bg] 0.86%
0 / 17
ex-BSP faction Social democracy BSP
Movement 21 Social democracy 0.21%
0 / 17
Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski" Agrarianism DNP
Green Party of Bulgaria Green politics
Political Movement "Social Democrats" Social democracy
National Movement for the Salvation of the Fatherland Left-wing nationalism
20 Party of the Greens [bg] Green politics
Left-wing nationalism
Todor Angelov 0.30%
0 / 17
21 We Are Coming Anti-corruption
Liberalism
Nikolay Hadjigenov Rise
22 GERB—SDS GERB Social conservatism
Pro-Europeanism
Rosen Zhelyazkov 30.13%
6 / 17
SDS Christian Democracy
Anti-communism
George's Day Movement National conservatism
Bulgarian nationalism
23 Bulgarian National Union Ultranationalism
Neo-nazism
Boyan Rasate [bg] DNP
24 BSP for Bulgaria BSP Social conservatism
Social democracy
Kristian Vigenin 23.53%
5 / 17
Ecoglasnost Green politics
Environmentalism
Political Club "Trakiya" [bg] Left wing nationalism
25 Velichie Bulgarian nationalism
Anti-corruption
Nikolay Markov Did not exist
26 VMRO National conservatism
Bulgarian nationalism
Angel Dzhambazki 7.14%
2 / 17
27 Political Party Direct Democracy  [bg] Bulgarian nationalism
Direct democracy
Petar Klisarov [bg] 0.12%
0 / 17
28 Movement for Rights and Freedoms Turkish minority interests
Liberalism
Dzhevdet Chakarov 16.05%
3 / 17
29 Green Movement Green liberalism
Green politics
Borislav Sandov Democratic Bulgaria
30 For a Great Bulgaria Bulgarian nationalism Valeri Grigorov [bg] Did not exist
31 Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy [bg] Direct democracy Daniel Bozhilov DNP

Campaign

[edit]

PP–DB

[edit]

PP

[edit]

On 24 January, after internal discussions, PP announced that their lead candidate for the EP elections would be the former Speaker of the 47th National Assembly and current MP, Nikola Minchev.[13]

On 18 March, the PP Executive Committee approved a shortlist of 15 candidates, including Daniel Lorer, Yavor Bozhankov, Hristo Petrov (known more commonly by his rapper name Itso Hazarta), Nastimir Ananiev, Iskren Mitev, Hristo Daskalov and Denitsa Simeonova, some of which will end up in the common PP–DB list.[14]

Following the Congress, PP confirmed their intention to participate in the upcoming election in a joint list with Democratic Bulgaria and presented a list of nominees for the list, which included the figures previously presented by the Executive Committee as well as MPs Iva Ruycheva and Miroslav Mavrov.[15]

Yes, Bulgaria!

[edit]

On 19 February, Yes, Bulgaria!, a member of DB, confirmed that the party would nominate candidates for the European Election list through internal elections.[16]

On the 7 April, "Yes, Bulgaria!" officially set the date for their internal elections between the 16 and 18 of April, with a list of nominees for the position similarly being published. The party also confirmed their intention to participate in the EU elections together with PP.[17]

On the 19 April, the party announced that former Bulgarian Ambassador to the United Nations Stefan Tafrov, an MEP candidate in the previous European elections, had won their internal primary.[18]

DSB

[edit]

The DSB, the other member of DB, is the only constituent party within PP–DB which has an MEP within the outgoing European Parliament, that being Radan Kanev.

On 17 January, Kanev confirmed that he would not be interested in becoming the list leader for a joint PP–DB list, although he did confirm his intention to participate in the upcoming EU elections and stated that he had already been nominated as the lead candidate from DSB.[19]

Revival

[edit]

Revival announced their list for the European Elections on the 16 of April, with the list being led by current MP Stanislav Stoyanov.[20] Notably, the second position on the list was held by Petar Volgin, a journalist known for his pro-Russian stances.[21]

DPS

[edit]

DPS announced their list for the European Elections on the 6 May, being led by the co-leader of the party, Dzhevdet Chakarov, and including incumbent BSP MEP, Elena Yoncheva.[22]

BSP

[edit]

The Bulgarian Socialist Party announced their list for the European Parliamentary Elections on the 27th of April, being headed by current MP, former MEP and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Vigenin.[23] Due to disagreements with party leader Korneliya Ninova, none of the party’s current MEPs, with the exception of Tsvetelina Penkova, ended up in the party’s list.

Other parties and independents

[edit]

Other parties

[edit]

On the 16 April, VMRO leader, Krasimir Karakachanov, confirmed the party, which currently has two MEPs in the outgoing European Parliament, intended to contest the upcoming European Elections alone.[24] The VMRO list was to be headed by current MEP, Angel Dzhambazki.[25]

Green Movement, a former member of the PP–DB coalition, similarly announced their intention to participate in the twin European-National elections independently. [26]

Solidary Bulgaria, a new electoral alliance between former Sofia mayoral candidate Vanya Grigorova and IS.BG leader Maya Manolova, will contest the European elections.[27]

Independent candidates

[edit]

Kuzman Iliev, Bulgarian economist and head of the civic organisation "Bulgaria Can", announced his intention to run as an independent on the 14 April 2024.[28]

Opinion polling

[edit]
Polling firm Fieldwork date Sample GERB—SDS
EPP
BSPzB
S&D
DPS
Renew
VMRO
ECR
PP–DB
Renew-EPP[e]
Revival
NI
ITN
ECR[f]
Blue Bulgaria
ECR
Others NOTA Lead
Alpha Research 1-4 June 2024 1000 25
5
7.9
2
14.1
3
15.9
3
15.7
3
5.9
1
2.9
0
12.6[g] 9.1
CAM 1-4 June 2024 821 26.2
5
8.1
2
14.1
3
17.7
4
14.8
3
5.3
0
2.1
0
8.5
Sova Haris 29 May-3 June 2024 1000 26.4
6
8.9
2
14.4
3
15.4
3
15.3
3
5.6
0
14 11
Market Links 22 May-2 June 2024 1004 28.8
6
8.7
2
12.4
3
20.2
4
11.4
2
3.9
0
2.2
0
7.4[h] 2.1 8.6
TREND 11–18 May 2024 1003 25.9
5
8.1
2
14.6
3
1.2
0
16.1
4
15.1
3
5.5
0
1.8
0
12.4[i] 5.3 9.8
Sova Harris 8–13 May 2024 1000 28.3
6
10.3
2
13.3
3
15.8
3
15
3
5.2
0
11.5 12.5
MarketLinks 29 April–9 May 2024 29.4
6
9.3
2
13.1
3
20.6
4
12.3
2
2.7
0
1.7
0
6.4[j] 4.2 8.8
Alpha Research 28 April–5 May 2024 1000 25.1
5
8.0
2
14.4
3
18.5
4
14.8
3
4.8
0
2.4
0
12.0[k] 6.6
Gallup 22 April–2 May 2024 808 26.4
5
8.2
2
14.9
3
1.3
0
17.5
4
14.7
3
4.5
0
1.4
0
11.1[l] 8.9
TREND 12–19 April 2024 1002 27.2
5
9.4
2
15.4
3
17.2
4
15.3
3
5.1
0
10.1[m] 10.1
Gallup 28 March-5 April 2024 805 28.7
5
10.1
2
15.3
3
18.2
4
15.1
3
5.5
0
9.8 6.2
IPSOS N/A N/A 27.1
5
8.8
2
13.0
2
20.9
4
15.1
3
6.1
1
8.9[n] 6.2
Alpha Research 1-7 March 2024 1000 27.0
5
10.6
2
10.0
2
23.8
5
15.8
3
5.9
0
6.9 3.2
Market Links 24 February-3 March 2024 1058 26.4
5
9.7
2
14.0
3
22.7
4
13.5
3
3.8
0
6.1 3.9 3.7
2019 election 26 May 2019 30.4
6
23.5
5
16.1
3
7.1
2
5.9[o]
1
1.0
0
2.6 4.1 6.9

Results

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
GERB–SDS474,05923.555–1
Movement for Rights and Freedoms295,09214.6630
We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria290,86514.453+2
Revival281,43413.983+3
BSP for Bulgaria141,1787.012–3
There is Such a People121,5726.041New
Velichie81,9554.07New
Morality, Unity, Honour51,0762.54New
VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement42,0222.09–2
Blue Bulgaria24,9171.24New
Solidary Bulgaria24,6851.23New
Center20,8691.04New
Party of the Greens [bg]17,1310.850
Independent candidate Kuzman Iliev11,0570.55New
The Left!10,2300.51New
Bulgarian Rise9,5100.47New
Green Movement8,3470.41
People's Voice6,9210.34
Direct Democracy [bg]5,2570.26
We Are Coming4,9990.25New
We the Citizens4,9370.25New
Unification4,3020.21New
Bulgarian Voice2,8210.14New
Citizens Bloc2,3100.11New
Coalition of the Rose [bg]2,2940.11New
Society for a New Bulgaria [bg]2,0730.10New
Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy1,9560.10New
For a Great Bulgaria1,7700.09New
People's Party "Truth and Only the Truth" [bg]1,7330.09New
Bulgarian National Unification9830.05
Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy [bg]8950.04New
None of the above63,8103.17
Total2,013,060100.00170
Valid votes2,013,06097.05
Invalid/blank votes61,2382.95
Total votes2,074,298100.00
Registered voters/turnout6,170,47233.62
Source: Central Electoral Commission, European Parliament

Parliamentary groups

[edit]
Parliamentary Group Seats
6 / 17
5 / 17
3 / 17
2 / 17
1 / 17

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ PP–DB is an electoral alliance which includes parties with different European affiliations. PP had expressed interest in joining Renew Europe prior to the election,[1] while DB, which itself is an alliance of two parties, features the DSB party, a member of the EPP. Additionally, DaB!, the other member of DB, had also applied for EPP membership prior to the election.[2] The PP–DB alliance ran united at the election but its elected MEPs were seated in different parliamentary groups.
  2. ^ ITN, despite not being a member of the ECR party, had repeatedly reaffirmed its intention to join the ECR Group throughout the election campaign.[3] Its elected MEP Ivaylo Valchev was granted a spot in the group following the election results.
  3. ^ Results with New Time Party [bg].
  4. ^ Results with of Vanya Grigorova as an Independent Candidate.
  5. ^ PP–DB is an electoral alliance, including parties with different european affiliations. PP has expressed interest in joining Renew Europe,[29] while MEP Radan Kanev from DSB sits in the EPP Group and DaB! is considering applying for EPP membership.[30]
  6. ^ ITN, despite not being an official member yet, has announced its intention to join the ECR Group.[31]
  7. ^ Includes Solidary Bulgaria at 2.3, winning no seats
  8. ^ Includes, CENTER at 2% and Solidary Bulgaria at 1.7% , all winning no seats
  9. ^ Includes, Solidary Bulgaria at 2.1%, Left at 1.2%, BV at 1.2%, all winning no seats
  10. ^ Includes, Solidary Bulgaria at 2.5% winning no seats
  11. ^ Includes, Solidary Bulgaria at 2.3%, Levitsata! at 1.9%, and Bulgarian Rise at 1.2%, all winning no seats
  12. ^ Includes, Solidary Bulgaria at 2.2%, winning no seats
  13. ^ Includes BV and Levitsata!, both at 1.8% and winning no seats
  14. ^ Includes BV at 2.9% and Levitsata! at 2.2%, both winning no seats
  15. ^ Democratic Bulgaria only

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "PP is getting closer to DPS and the European liberal family" (in Bulgarian). 29 June 2023.
  2. ^ ""Yes, Bulgaria" is taking a turn to the right" (in Bulgarian). 2 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Bulgarian populists keen to join EU conservative bloc". 4 December 2023.
  4. ^ "2024 European elections: National rules Infographic" (PDF). European Parliament.
  5. ^ Изборен Кодекс [Electoral Code] (Annex № 3, Article II & III). 2016. p. 225. Retrieved 5 December 2023 – via Venice Commission.
  6. ^ Oelbermann, Kai Friederike; Pukelsheim, Friedrich (July 2020). "The European Elections of May 2019" (PDF). europarl.europa.eu. p. 14.
  7. ^ "How to vote in Bulgaria". European Parliament.
  8. ^ "Петър Витанов: Цяло чудо ще е, ако БСП вкара двама евродепутати". Mediapool (in Bulgarian). 29 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Иво Христов: Българският политически модел трябва да бъде зареден с ново доверие". BNR (in Bulgarian). 29 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Станишев няма да участва в евровота, някои кандидати на БСП били по-скоро за листата на "Възраждане"". Dnes (in Bulgarian). 30 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Мария Габриел, Александър Йорданов и българската еврокомисарка - извън играта за изборите (ОБНОВЕНА)". ClubZ (in Bulgarian). 7 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Кандидати за ЕП".
  13. ^ "Официално: Никола Минчев ще е водач на листата на ПП на евроизборите". BTV (in Bulgarian). 24 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Лорер и Ицо Хазарта в списъка на ПП за евроизборите". Dnes (in Bulgarian). 18 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Ето кого предлагат за евролистата си "Продължаваме Промяната"". 24цчаса (in Bulgarian). 31 March 2024.
  16. ^ ""Да, България!" ще излъчи кандидатите си за депутати в ЕП чрез вътрешни избори". 24chasa (in Bulgarian). 19 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Kандидатите на ДБ ще се определят с вътрешни избори". 24chasa (in Bulgarian). 7 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Стефан Тафров спечели вътрешнопартийните избори на "Да, България!" за евроизборите". 24chasa (in Bulgarian). 19 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Радан Кънев: Няма да се боря за водаческото място в обща листа на ПП-ДБ за евроизборите". BNT (in Bulgarian). 17 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Станислав Стоянов оглавява евролистата на "Възраждане"". Banker (in Bulgarian). 16 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Петър Волгин ще е втори в евролистата на „Възраждане"". Breaking.bg (in Bulgarian). 16 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Пеевски повежда листите на ДПС в Кърджали и Благоевград, Чакъров става водач на евролистата". Dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). 6 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Двама журналисти в червената евролиста - Александър Симов и Велизар Енчев". Epicenter.bg (in Bulgarian). 27 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Каракачанов: На тези избори ще се явим самостоятелно". Novini (in Bulgarian). 16 April 2024.
  25. ^ "ВМРО: Контрера е водач в 23 и 24 МИР в София, Джамбазки поема евролиста и 25 МИР". 24chasa (in Bulgarian). 4 May 2024.
  26. ^ "„Зелено движение" ще се яви на изборите без ПП-ДБ". Btv (in Bulgarian). 15 April 2024.
  27. ^ Епицентър. "Ваня Григорова, Кристиан Вигенин и Валери Жаблянов повеждат три отделни леви евролисти". Epicenter (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Кузман Илиев: Ще участвам като независим кандидат на европейските избори". BTA.bg (in Bulgarian). 14 April 2024.
  29. ^ "PP is getting closer to DPS and the European liberal family" (in Bulgarian). 29 June 2023.
  30. ^ ""Yes, Bulgaria" is taking a turn to the right" (in Bulgarian). 2 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Bulgarian populists keen to join EU conservative bloc". 4 December 2023.