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Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy

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Bulgarian National Union - ND
Български национален съюз - Нова демокрация
LeaderBoyan Rasate
Founded19 April 1990 [1]
HeadquartersSofia, Bulgaria
IdeologyUltranationalism[2]
Bulgarian irredentism
Anti-communism
Anti-globalism
Anti-immigration
Hard Euroscepticism
Neo-Nazism (sympathizing)
Political positionFar-right
European affiliationNation Europa (2024–)
ColoursWhite, green, red, and black
National Assembly
0 / 240
European Parliament
0 / 17
Party flag
Website
idem.bg

Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy (BNU-ND) (Bulgarian: Български национален съюз - Нова демокрация (БНС-НД)) is an ultranationalist political party based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The party claims to be patriotic and purports to protect Bulgarian values, but shows sympathies for National Socialism. It can also be defined as anti-communist, because of the negative attitude towards certain communists in history.[3] Its leader is Boyan Rasate since 2014.[4]

The party opposes the celebration of what it considers non-Bulgarian holidays in the country, including 9 May, "Victory Day". It draws attention by stating protests and by practicing civil disobedience.[5] The Sofia Globe considers it a right-wing, nationalist fringe party, and commented that it has an "unblemished record of never winning any seats in elections".

History

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On April 19, 1990, the Sofia City Court House registered the political party "Bulgarian National Union 'New Democracy'" based on Article 9 of the Political Parties Act. Its statute was adopted on March 3, 1990, and Ivan Ivanov was elected as chairman. Kiril Ganev became his deputy, and Dimitar Penchev became the party's secretary. The organization's main goal was the revival of Bulgaria - economically and spiritually.[6]

From 2003 to 2019, the party hosted an annual 'Lukov March' to commemorate “fallen heroes of Bulgaria” with a torch march, taking place in February in Sofia.[7][8]

On April 30, 2004, changes were made to the party's central leadership. Bogdan Yotsov became the chairman, and Boris Ivanov became the responsible secretary.[6]

On June 6, 2009, Bogdan Yotsov and Boris Ivanov, representing the Bulgarian National Union 'New Democracy', filed an application for registration to participate in the elections for National Assembly deputies on July 5, 2009. A list containing the signatures of 23,374 voters supporting the party was presented. On June 10, the Central Election Commission registered the Bulgarian National Union 'New Democracy' in the register of parties and coalitions for participation in the elections.[6]

Later, the party was led by Boyan Rasate, the former chairman of the Bulgarian National Union organization, and participated for the first time under his leadership in the parliamentary elections in 2014.[4]

In 2020, the Supreme Administrative Court upheld a ban by the Sofia municipality to ban 'Lukov March'.[9]

The party condemns the Russian attack on Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, and on February 26, its members attended a protest against Vladimir Putin's aggression.[10] At the protest, the leader of the Bulgarian National Union 'New Democracy', Boyan Rasate, demonstrated his support for the Ukrainian nationalists from the Azov Brigade by waving their flag.[11]

Objectives of the party

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The party wants a strong centralized state power and rejects the current multi-party parliamentary democracy, calling it "compromised".[12] It wants to dissolve all political parties and all organizations that it claims undermine the foundations of the Bulgarian state and society. The National Assembly should be composed of professionals, elected on a regional basis and competent in their field representatives of different backgrounds and professions. The means of production and the national economy can be both private and public, but the strategic sectors of the economy and public life are to be owned by Bulgarian state.

It favors a conscript army for men and women, and considers the Bulgarian "homeland" to be larger than its current borders. Bulgarian minorities outside of the Republic of Bulgaria are an integral part of the Bulgarian nation and state should protect their interests by any means – such regions include Thrace, Macedonia and Dobruja.

Election results

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National Assembly

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Election Leader Votes % Seats Government
2014 Boyan Rasate 5,559 0.17 (#21)
0 / 240
 Extra-parliamentary
Apr 2021 2,936 0.09 (#26)
0 / 240
 Extra-parliamentary
Jul 2021 4,690 0.17 (#15)
0 / 240
 Extra-parliamentary
Nov 2021 1,099 0.04 (#27)
0 / 240
 Extra-parliamentary
2022 1,849 0.07 (#26)
0 / 240
 Extra-parliamentary
2023 1,753 0.07 (#20)
0 / 240
 Extra-parliamentary
Jun 2024 2,163 0.10 (#28)
0 / 240
 Extra-parliamentary
Oct 2024 2,230 0.09 (#22)
0 / 240
 Extra-parliamentary

European Parliament

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Election List leader Votes % Seats +/– EP Group
2024 Boyan Rasate 1,956 0.10 (#27)
0 / 17
 New –

Controversies

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In 2015, the government of Russia announced against the holding of the 'Lukov March' and accused the organizations supporting it of Neo-Nazism.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Register of political parties in Bulgaria". 17 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Controversial Bulgarian 'national strike – we're here' protest proves to be a misnomer". 28 January 2016.
  3. ^ ""Лидерът на националистическата БНС Боян Расате пак влезе в новините.."". novini247.com (in Bulgarian). 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b ""Български Национален Съюз няма нищо общо с партия БНС – Нова демокрация"". bgns.net (in Bulgarian). 5 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  5. ^ Clive, Leviev-Sawyer (28 January 2016). "Controversial Bulgarian 'national strike – we're here' protest proves to be a misnomer". Sofia Globe. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Български национален съюз "Нова демокрация"". mstoyanov.net (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Lukov March 2017 goes ahead in spite of mayoral ban over foreign neo-Nazi involvement". The Sofia Globe. 2017-02-18. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  8. ^ Press Release, Sofia, 12 February 2011: European Network against Racism insists "Lukov March" [must] be cancelled, www.Enar-EU.org, 12 February 2011, archived from the original on 2 January 2014, retrieved 23 January 2017, On 11 February 2011 Secretariat of European Network against Racism (ENAR) in Brussels sent a letter to Mrs. Jordanka Fandakova, the Mayor of Sofia Municipality. With this letter, ENAR insists the Lukov March scheduled for tomorrow (12 February 2011) be cancelled. ENAR also is calling on the Municipality of Sofia to forbid such public demonstrations of racial and neo-Nazi ideas in the future. [...]
  9. ^ "Far-right torchlight parade in Sofia hit by court ban". Reuters. 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
  10. ^ Cherkezov, Zdravko (26 February 2022). ""Боян Расате се спречка с ЛГБТ хора на протеста срещу войната в Украйна"". bgonair.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  11. ^ ""Боян Расате пак се озова с белезници. Националистът размаха знамето на сочения за неофашистки Азовски полк на протеста в подкрепа за Украйна"". lupa.bg (in Bulgarian). 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  12. ^ "BNS-ND Website Section on Party Programme". Retrieved 14 February 2021. Ние отхвърляме сегашната многопартийна парламентарна демокрация като форма на управление, която е компрометирана, не кореспондира с манталитета и историческите нужди на Българския народ и като такава се явява вредна за съдбините му.
  13. ^ ""Русия посочи неонацисти у нас"". standartnews.com (in Bulgarian). 5 May 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
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