Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
Encyclopedia
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union also tiranslated to English as Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union is a political party
devoted to representing the causes of the Bulgaria
n peasant
ry. It was most powerful between 1900 and 1923. In practice, it was an agrarian movement
. Unlike the socialist movements of the early 20th century, but was devoted to questions concerning agriculture and farm workers, rather than industry and factory workers. The BZNS, one of the first and most powerful of the peasant parties in Eastern Europe
, dominated Bulgarian politics during the beginning of the 20th century. It is also the only peasant party in Europe that came to power. Member of the International Agrarian Bureau
.
in 1899 — it was to be a professional organization open only to peasants, and was at first not meant to become a political party. The Union initially won widespread peasant support by mobilizing peasants throughout Bulgaria to peaceful demonstrations against the government’s unfair taxation policies. Throughout this process the Union remained politically unaligned. However, at its third congress, motivated by upcoming elections for the Bulgarian National Assembly, the Union leaders—not peasants themselves but a group of teachers—voted to become a political party. Thus, in 1901, the Agrarian Union became the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union — Bulgaria’s official peasant party. BZNS candidates subsequently ran for positions in local and national elections.
Over the next twenty years, the BZNS remained a part of Bulgarian politics, but it began to falter for lack of a concrete ideological base. Aleksandar Stamboliyski
saved the party from that plight by first publishing a series of theoretical articles on the peasants’ role in the state and history, and finally taking control of the BZNS party. In 1909 he wrote the book Political Parties or Estatist Organizations, which laid the foundations for the ideology of the BZNS. Stamboliski rose through the ranks of the BZNS and by 1918 had become the leader of the party. World War I
left Bulgaria in a state of severe social and economic crisis, and after a series of worker and peasant strikes and uprisings between 1918 and 1920, the Bulgarian army and all old political parties were essentially discredited. In 1920, by a combination of major popular support and some coercive methods, Stamboliski was able to create a BZNS controlled government.
The chief rival of Stamboliski’s BZNS was the Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP)
. After World War I the BZNS and BKP were the two leading parties in Bulgarian politics. Though the BZNS initially beat the communist party for political power, its authority quickly began to wane because, according to the communists, the BZNS wavered in its support between the proletariat and bourgeoisie. Despite the fact that most of them were not rich, peasants still participated in an old bourgeois economic system, which was, from the communist point of view, destined to fail.
Though the BKP was always opposed to certain BZNS policies, most other factions became dissatisfied with Stamboliski and the BZNS because of growing corruption within the party, and an increasingly oppressive rule over the Bulgarian people. On 9 June, 1923 a bloc of military factions staged a coup d’etat and deposed the Stamboliski regime. Though the communists ultimately gained control of the Bulgarian government, the BZNS remained in existence (as a member of the Fatherland Front
), and participated in agricultural policy in Bulgaria until the fall of communism
in 1989.
party, and as such supported the rights of the individual peasant over those of the corporation or large-scale landowner.
Stamboliski believed that mechanized agriculture would never replace the individual peasant, but also that peasant agriculture need not be backward or inefficient. Therefore, he stressed the importance of education in peasant communities. He also emphasized the need for social welfare, and believed that if the state could distribute arable land equally to each family and lower the tax burden on the peasantry, the condition of the Bulgarian peasantry would naturally improve.
In the international sphere, the BZNS was strictly anti-imperialist in its policies. Stamboliski thought that the new groups which would supposedly replace the old political parties had the possibility to become international organizations. He hoped for and encouraged an agrarian alliance that would spread outside of Bulgaria to the entire Balkan region. He did not pursue territorial expansion, and generally neglected the army. These policies contributed to the dissatisfaction that led to the overthrow of Stamboliski and the BZNS in 1923.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
devoted to representing the causes of the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
ry. It was most powerful between 1900 and 1923. In practice, it was an agrarian movement
Agrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
. Unlike the socialist movements of the early 20th century, but was devoted to questions concerning agriculture and farm workers, rather than industry and factory workers. The BZNS, one of the first and most powerful of the peasant parties in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, dominated Bulgarian politics during the beginning of the 20th century. It is also the only peasant party in Europe that came to power. Member of the International Agrarian Bureau
International Agrarian Bureau
The International Agrarian Bureau was founded in 1921 by the Agrarian parties of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Croatia, and Poland growing to 17 political parties in Eastern Europe by 1928. It was sometimes referred to as the "first Green International". The Bureau was a key competitor with the Red...
.
History
An Agrarian Union was first organized in BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in 1899 — it was to be a professional organization open only to peasants, and was at first not meant to become a political party. The Union initially won widespread peasant support by mobilizing peasants throughout Bulgaria to peaceful demonstrations against the government’s unfair taxation policies. Throughout this process the Union remained politically unaligned. However, at its third congress, motivated by upcoming elections for the Bulgarian National Assembly, the Union leaders—not peasants themselves but a group of teachers—voted to become a political party. Thus, in 1901, the Agrarian Union became the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union — Bulgaria’s official peasant party. BZNS candidates subsequently ran for positions in local and national elections.
Over the next twenty years, the BZNS remained a part of Bulgarian politics, but it began to falter for lack of a concrete ideological base. Aleksandar Stamboliyski
Aleksandar Stamboliyski
Aleksandar Stamboliyski was the prime minister of Bulgaria from 1919 until 1923. Stamboliyski was a member of the Agrarian Union, an agrarian peasant movement which was not allied to the monarchy, and edited their newspaper...
saved the party from that plight by first publishing a series of theoretical articles on the peasants’ role in the state and history, and finally taking control of the BZNS party. In 1909 he wrote the book Political Parties or Estatist Organizations, which laid the foundations for the ideology of the BZNS. Stamboliski rose through the ranks of the BZNS and by 1918 had become the leader of the party. World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
left Bulgaria in a state of severe social and economic crisis, and after a series of worker and peasant strikes and uprisings between 1918 and 1920, the Bulgarian army and all old political parties were essentially discredited. In 1920, by a combination of major popular support and some coercive methods, Stamboliski was able to create a BZNS controlled government.
The chief rival of Stamboliski’s BZNS was the Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP)
Bulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
. After World War I the BZNS and BKP were the two leading parties in Bulgarian politics. Though the BZNS initially beat the communist party for political power, its authority quickly began to wane because, according to the communists, the BZNS wavered in its support between the proletariat and bourgeoisie. Despite the fact that most of them were not rich, peasants still participated in an old bourgeois economic system, which was, from the communist point of view, destined to fail.
Though the BKP was always opposed to certain BZNS policies, most other factions became dissatisfied with Stamboliski and the BZNS because of growing corruption within the party, and an increasingly oppressive rule over the Bulgarian people. On 9 June, 1923 a bloc of military factions staged a coup d’etat and deposed the Stamboliski regime. Though the communists ultimately gained control of the Bulgarian government, the BZNS remained in existence (as a member of the Fatherland Front
Fatherland Front (Bulgaria)
The Fatherland Front was originally a Bulgarian political resistance movement during World War II. The Zveno movement, the communist Bulgarian Workers Party, a wing of the Agrarian Union and the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers Party, were all part of the FF...
), and participated in agricultural policy in Bulgaria until the fall of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in 1989.
Ideological foundations
Stamboliski believed that over time, new groups which were more attuned to modern political and economic needs would replace old political parties. He detailed this view in the 1909 book Political Parties or Estatist Organizations. In this vein, the BZNS was supposed to be more than a political party. It was meant to retain its original function as a professional organization for peasants, and also involve itself in politics in order to guarantee the protection of the peasant classes. The BZNS was a populistPopulism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
party, and as such supported the rights of the individual peasant over those of the corporation or large-scale landowner.
Stamboliski believed that mechanized agriculture would never replace the individual peasant, but also that peasant agriculture need not be backward or inefficient. Therefore, he stressed the importance of education in peasant communities. He also emphasized the need for social welfare, and believed that if the state could distribute arable land equally to each family and lower the tax burden on the peasantry, the condition of the Bulgarian peasantry would naturally improve.
Policies
After Stamboliski came to power, the BZNS organized campaigns for redistribution of land and rural education. These campaigns were largely successful, and the BZNS enjoyed widespread support in the immediate post-war period.In the international sphere, the BZNS was strictly anti-imperialist in its policies. Stamboliski thought that the new groups which would supposedly replace the old political parties had the possibility to become international organizations. He hoped for and encouraged an agrarian alliance that would spread outside of Bulgaria to the entire Balkan region. He did not pursue territorial expansion, and generally neglected the army. These policies contributed to the dissatisfaction that led to the overthrow of Stamboliski and the BZNS in 1923.
Members of National Assembly
1919-1923: 200 MPs, 1944-1990: 99 and 100 MPs, 1990-2009: from 30 to 7 MPs, since 2009: 1 MP.Wings
- Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union (former communist ally) - officially called BZNS until 1991 when a group of parliamentarians from the BZNS "Nikola Petkov" united with the party under the name BZNS (United).
- Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union "Nikola Petkov" - restored at the end of 1989 and co-founder of the coalition Union of Democratic ForcesUnion of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)The Union of Democratic Forces is a political party in Bulgaria, founded in 1989 as a union of several political organizations in opposition to the communist government. In February 1997 the Union was transformed into a single unified party with the same name...
. A unifying congress of BZNS (United) and BZNS "Nikola Petkov" united the different agrarian wings under the name BZNS in November 1992. - Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union (United) - 1991-1992, see above.
- Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union - People's Union - split in 1996 led by Anastasiya Mozer.
- Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski" - split in 1993 led by Svetoslav Stoyanov Shivarov.
Chairmen since 1947
- Georgi Trajkov - from 1947-1974
- Petar Tanchev - from 1974-1989
- Angel Dimitrov - from 1989-1990
- Victor Valkov - from 1990-1991
- Tsenko Bareva - from 1991-1992 (BZNS United)
- Milan Drenchev - from 1990 to 1992 (BZNS "Nikola Petkov")
- Anastasiya Mozer - from 1992 to 1996
- Georgi Pinchev - from 1996 to 1997
- Petko Iliev - from 1997 to 1999
- Georgi Pinchev since 1999
Deputy chairmen since 1947
- Kiril Klisurski- from 1948 to 1950 of spring "Organizacion"
- Nikolai Georgiev- from 1950 to 1958 of spring "Organizacion" and 1958-1987 of resor "Finance and administration"
- Petar Tanchev - from 1958 to 1974 of spring "Organizacion"
- Ianko Marcov - fom 1973 to 1989 of spring "Construction"
- Georgi Andreev - from 1971 to 1976 of spring "International afares" and "Organization" ,from 1976-1979 of spring "Agriculture"
- Alexi Ivanov - from 1976 to 1989 of spring "Organization" and from 1980-1989 of spring "Political afares"
- Angel Dimitrov - from 1974 to 1989 of spring "International afares"
- Dimitar Karamukov - from 1979 to 1984 of spring "Agriculture"
- Pando Vanchev- from 1986 to 1989 of spring "Agriculture"
- Victor Valkov - from 1989 to 1990 of spring"International afares" and "Organization"
- Svetla Daskalova- from 1989 to 1990 of spring "Agriculture" and "Finance and administration"
- Kostadin Ianchev - from 1990 to 1991 of spring "Organization"
- Doncho Karakachanov - from 1993-1997 of spring "Organization"(BZNS "Aleksander Stamboliiski")
List of Ministers of Bulgaria from BZNS 1919-2001
- Aleksiandar Stamboliski - Prime Minister of Bulgaria 1919-1923
- Rajko Daskalov - Minister of Agriculture 1919-1921
- Konstantin MuravievKonstantin MuravievKonstantin Vladov Muraviev was a leading member of the Agrarian People's Union who briefly served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria near the end of Bulgarian involvement in the Second World War...
- Prime Minister of Bulgaria 1944 - Asen PavlovAsen PavlovAsen Pavlov was a Bulgarian terrorist who was a principle player in the St Nedelya Church assault. He helped the project's leader, Petar Abadzhiev, to set the explosives used in the church.-References:...
- Minister of Agriculture 1944 - Nikola PetkovNikola PetkovNikola Dimitrov Petkov was a Bulgarian politician, one of the leaders of the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union . He entered politics in the early 1930s. Like many other peasant party leaders in Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria in 1945-1947, Petkov was tried and executed soon after postwar Soviet...
- Minister 1944-1945 - Aleksander Obbov - Minister of Agriculture and State Building 1944-1945
- Mihail Genovski - Minister of Agriculture 1945-1947
- Georgi Trajkov - Minister of Agriculture and Forestry 1947-1951 and Deputy and First President of Council of Ministers 1951-1964
- Kiril Klisurski - Minister of Mines 1948-1950
- Radi Najdenov - Minister of Justice 1947-1958
- Stoian Toncev - Minister of Architecture 1953-1958
- Petar Tanchev - Minister of Justic 1958-1966 and Deputy and First Deputy President of Council of Ministers 1966-1974
- Svetla Daskalova - Minister of Justice 1966-1990
- Haralambi Traikov (the son of Georgi Traikov) - Minister of Information and Messages 1968-1973
- Ianko Markov - Minster of Forestry 1971-1986
- Georgi Andreev - Minister of Information and Messages 1973-1976
- Pando Vanchev - Minister of Mesages 1976-1986
- Alexi IvanovAlexi IvanovAlexi Ivanov was a Bulgarian politician. He served as the Deputy Chairman of Council of Ministers, Chairman of the Council for Agriculture and Forestry Economy - member of the Council of Ministers and Minister of agriculture and forestry in the government of Georgi Atanasov, from March 24, 1986...
- Minister of Agriculture and Forestry 1986-1988 and Deputy President of Council of Ministers 1986-1987 - Radoi Popivanov - Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare 1977-1988
- Georgi Menov - Minister of Agriculture and Forestry 1988-1990
- Mincho Peichev - Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare 1988-1990
- Viktor Valkov - Minister of Foreign Affairs 1990-1991 and Deputy President of Council of Minsters 1990-1991
- Vasil Chichibaba - Minister of Agriculture and Food Industri 1995-1996
- Svetoslav Shivarov - Minister of Agriculture and Food Industri 1996 and Deputy President of Council of Ministers 1995-1997
- Vencislav Varbanov - Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and Ararian Reform 1997-2001
External links
- Official website
- Bulgarian Subject Files - Political Parties: Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union Open Society Archives, Budapest