GERB

GERB
ГЕРБ
Leader Boyko Borisov
Chairman Boyko Borisov
Founded December 3, 2006 (2006-12-03)
Split from National Movement for Stability and Progress
Headquarters Sofia
Membership (2016) Increase 86,000 (2nd)[1]
Ideology Liberal conservatism[2]
Populism[3][4][5]
Pro-Europeanism[6]
Political position Centre-right[3][7][8]
European affiliation European People's Party
International affiliation International Democrat Union
European Parliament group European People's Party
Colours Blue, grey
National Assembly
95 / 240
European Parliament
6 / 17
Website
http://www.gerb.bg/

GERB (Bulgarian: ГЕРБ, Граждани за европейско развитие на България, "Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria") is a Bulgarian centre-right political party established on March 13, 2006. The initials of the party герб/gerb also translate as "coat of arms" in Bulgarian.

History

GERB is headed by Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov, former mayor of Sofia and former member of the National Movement Simeon II. The establishment of the party followed the creation of a non-profit organization with the acronym (in Bulgarian) GERB — Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, earlier the same year. The name of the party is not stated to be an acronym, but is spelled in all caps nonetheless.

In early January 2007,[9] and early February 2007,[10] the party came second in public polls on party support with around 14%, trailing the Bulgarian Socialist Party which had around 25%. Its stated priorities are fighting crime and corruption, preserving family as the cornerstone of society and achieving energy independence.

GERB won the 2009 European Parliament election in Bulgaria with 24.36% of the vote. The party elected five MEPs and joined the European People's Party-European Democrats Group in the European Parliament (in the EPP section). On June 6, 2007 GERB applied formally to join as a member-party the European People's Party[11] and joined EPP on February 7, 2008.[12]

GERB won the 2009 parliamentary elections, held a month after the European ballot, winning 39.7% of the popular vote and 117 seats (out of 240). After the elections, a new government was formed, led by Borisov, primarily with GERB members and with 5 independent ministers around Deputy Prime Minister Simeon Djankov. The reformist wing was responsible for some of the most significant legislative victories, including a Constitutional reform to ban tax increases. On 20 February 2013, the government resigned after nationwide protests demanding it to step down.[13]

GERB's candidates for the 2011 presidential election, Rosen Plevneliev and Margarita Popova (presidential nominee and running mate, respectively), won the elections on the second ballot with 52.6% of the popular vote.

GERB won the 2013 parliamentary elections with 97 seats, receiving 30.5% of the popular vote. This made GERB the first governing party to be re-elected in the history of the post-communist Bulgaria. However, with lack of support from the other parties and designated to form a new government, Borisov refused the offer and so GERB went in the opposition.

List of chairmen

№ Name
 Portrait Term of office
1 Boyko Borisov

(2017-

 30th April 2017 Incumbent

Elections

Statistics

Bulgarian Parliament
Election # of seats won # of total votes % of popular vote rank Government
2009
117 / 240
 1,678,583 39.72% 1st yes
2013
97 / 240
 1,081,605 30.54% 1st no
2014
84 / 240
 1,072,491 32.67% 1st yes
2017
95 / 240
 1,147,283 32.65% 1st yes
Plevneliev for President
Election # of total votes (1st round) % of popular vote (1st round) rank (1st round) # of total votes (2nd round) % of popular vote (2nd round) rank (2nd round)
2011 1,349,380 40.11% 1st 1,698,136 52.58% 1st
Tsacheva for President
Election # of total votes (1st round) % of popular vote (1st round) rank (1st round) # of total votes (2nd round) % of popular vote (2nd round) rank (2nd round)
2016 840,635 21.96% 2nd 1,256,485 36.16% 2nd
European Parliament
Election # of seats won # of total votes % of popular vote rank
2007
5 / 18
 420,001 21.68% 1st
2009
5 / 18
 627,693 24.36% 1st
2014
6 / 17
 680,838 30.40% 1st

References

  1. ↑ https://www.24chasa.bg/Article/5300656
  2. ↑ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2011). "Bulgaria". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Hope, Kerin; Troev, Theodor (June 10, 2009). "Populist promises to clean up Bulgaria". Financial Times. Retrieved December 19, 2011.(registration required)
  4. ↑ Novaković, Igor (2010). ""European" and "Extreme" Populists in the Same Row – the New Government of the Republic of Bulgaria" (PDF). Western Balkans Security Observer. ISAC Fund (17): 63–73. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  5. ↑ Cristova, Christiana (2010). "Populism: the Bulgarian case" (PDF). Sociedade e Cultura. Goiânia. 13 (2): 221–232. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  6. ↑ Routledge Handbook of European Elections edited by Donatella M. Viola, page 639
  7. ↑ Smilov, Daniel; Jileva, Elena (2009), "The politics of Bulgarian citizenship: National identity, democracy and other uses", Citizenship Policies in the New Europe, Amsterdam University Press, p. 229
  8. ↑ Jansen, Thomas; Van Hecke, Steven (2012), At Europe's Service: The Origins and Evolution of the European People's Party, Springer, p. 78
  9. ↑ "Socialists Lead GERB in Bulgarian Politics: Angus Reid Global Monitor". Angus Reid Public Opinion. Vision Critical. Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Socialists Gain, GERB Second in Bulgaria: Angus Reid Global Monitor". Angus Reid Public Opinion. Vision Critical. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Лидерът на ПП ГЕРБ е на двудневно посещение в Брюксел". ГЕРБ (in Bulgarian). June 6, 2007. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Bulgaria's GERB joins European People's Party". SEtimes.com. February 8, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  13. ↑ New York Times, The. "After Bulgarian Protests, Prime Minister Resigns". Retrieved 20 February 2013.
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