Bulgarian Socialist Party
Encyclopedia
The Bulgarian Socialist Party is social-democratic
political party in Bulgaria
and successor to the Bulgarian Communist Party
. The BSP is a member of the Party of European Socialists
and Socialist International
, and is currently led by Sergei Stanishev.
created on 2 August 1891 on Buzludzha
peak by Dimitar Blagoev
, designated in 1903 as the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers' Party (Narrow Socialists)
. The party is thus affectionately known as "The Centenarian" (Столетницата, Stoletnitsata).
The Bulgarian Socialist Party was formed after the political changes of 1989, following the decision of the Bulgarian Communist Party
to abandon Marxism–Leninism.
Its name was changed in April 1990, while the former Communist Party was still in power, during the mandate of Prime Minister Andrey Lukanov
. Lukanov's term was marked by heavy food shortages and ended in December the same year, after civil unrest
.
The Bulgarian Socialist Party formed a new government in 1995, headed by Prime Minister Zhan Videnov
. Its term ended at the end of 1996, after the country entered into a spiral of hyperinflation
, the most serious economic and financial crisis in its recent history. Large-scale demonstrations in the cities and a general strike
prevented the formation of a new socialist government.
After two full terms out of power (1997–2005), the BSP and its allies in the Coalition for Bulgaria
won the national elections of 2005 by 31.0% and formed a coalition
with the centrist
party National Movement Simeon II and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms
. The cabinet was headed by BSP chairman Sergei Stanishev. The government adopted an liberal economic
model more consistent with right-wing politics
(10% flat tax
and cutting of government spending
), and initially built on the economic growth and stability achieved in previous years, while increasing state-paid salaries and pension
s. However, in the second part of the coalition's term, Bulgaria, now a member of the European Union
, lost millions of Euros of European financial aid in the wake of allegations of widespread political corruption
. The cabinet was also slow or unable to react to the encroaching world economic crisis and its term ended with a budget deficit after several successive surplus years.
In the 2009 national elections
, the BSP lost catastrophically to the conservative
party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
(GERB), obtaining a mere 36 out of 240 parliamentary seats (18%), and remained in opposition.
The incumbent President of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov
, is a former chairman of the BSP.
, according to the paper "The Beneficiaries of Saddam's Oil Vouchers: The List of 270".
However, this allegation had little impact on the public image of the party at the time it was unveiled.
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
political party in 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...
and successor to the Bulgarian Communist Party
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...
. The BSP is a member of the Party of European Socialists
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
and Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
, and is currently led by Sergei Stanishev.
History
The Bulgarian Socialist Party is recognised as the successor of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers' PartyBulgarian Social Democratic Workers' Party
The foundations of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers' Party were in 1894.In July 1891 on the initiative of Dimitar Blagoev, the social democratic circles of Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Kazanlak and other cities united to form the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party...
created on 2 August 1891 on Buzludzha
Buzludzha
Buzludzha is a historical peak in the Central Stara Planina, Bulgaria and is 1441 metres high. In 1868 it was the place of the final battle between Bulgarian rebels led by Hadji Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha and the Turks. In 1891 the socialists led by Dimitar Blagoev assembled secretly in the area...
peak by Dimitar Blagoev
Dimitar Blagoev
Dimitar Blagoev Nikolov ; was a Bulgarian political leader, the founder of Bulgarian socialism and of the first social democratic party in the Balkans.-Biography:...
, designated in 1903 as the Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers' Party (Narrow Socialists)
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...
. The party is thus affectionately known as "The Centenarian" (Столетницата, Stoletnitsata).
The Bulgarian Socialist Party was formed after the political changes of 1989, following the decision of the Bulgarian Communist Party
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...
to abandon Marxism–Leninism.
Its name was changed in April 1990, while the former Communist Party was still in power, during the mandate of Prime Minister Andrey Lukanov
Andrey Lukanov
Andrey Karlov Lukanov was a Bulgarian political figure.-Biography:Lukanov was born in Moscow, USSR, in the family of Karlo Lukanov, , a Bulgarian communist emigre....
. Lukanov's term was marked by heavy food shortages and ended in December the same year, after civil unrest
Civil disorder
Civil disorder, also known as civil unrest or civil strife, is a broad term that is typically used by law enforcement to describe one or more forms of disturbance caused by a group of people. Civil disturbance is typically a symptom of, and a form of protest against, major socio-political problems;...
.
The Bulgarian Socialist Party formed a new government in 1995, headed by Prime Minister Zhan Videnov
Zhan Videnov
Zhan Vasilev Videnov was prime minister of Bulgaria from 25 January 1995 until 13 February 1997, a term remembered for the most severe economic and financial crisis in recent Bulgarian history. He was chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party from 1991 to 1996.-Education:Zhan Videnov graduated...
. Its term ended at the end of 1996, after the country entered into a spiral of hyperinflation
Hyperinflation
In economics, hyperinflation is inflation that is very high or out of control. While the real values of the specific economic items generally stay the same in terms of relatively stable foreign currencies, in hyperinflationary conditions the general price level within a specific economy increases...
, the most serious economic and financial crisis in its recent history. Large-scale demonstrations in the cities and a general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
prevented the formation of a new socialist government.
After two full terms out of power (1997–2005), the BSP and its allies in the Coalition for Bulgaria
Coalition for Bulgaria
The Coalition for Bulgaria is a centre-left electoral alliance in Bulgaria, led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party.-Members of the coalition:2001 / 2005 *Bulgarian Socialist Party ....
won the national elections of 2005 by 31.0% and formed a coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
with the centrist
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
party National Movement Simeon II and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms
Movement for Rights and Freedoms
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland...
. The cabinet was headed by BSP chairman Sergei Stanishev. The government adopted an liberal economic
Economic liberalism
Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in giving all people economic freedom, and as such granting people with more basis to control their own lives and make their own mistakes. It is an economic philosophy that supports and promotes individual liberty and choice in economic matters and...
model more consistent with right-wing politics
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
(10% flat tax
Flat tax
A flat tax is a tax system with a constant marginal tax rate. Typically the term flat tax is applied in the context of an individual or corporate income that will be taxed at one marginal rate...
and cutting of government spending
Government spending
Government spending includes all government consumption, investment but excludes transfer payments made by a state. Government acquisition of goods and services for current use to directly satisfy individual or collective needs of the members of the community is classed as government final...
), and initially built on the economic growth and stability achieved in previous years, while increasing state-paid salaries and pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
s. However, in the second part of the coalition's term, Bulgaria, now a member of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, lost millions of Euros of European financial aid in the wake of allegations of widespread political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
. The cabinet was also slow or unable to react to the encroaching world economic crisis and its term ended with a budget deficit after several successive surplus years.
In the 2009 national elections
Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2009
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 5 July 2009. The decisive winner of the elections was Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, led by Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov...
, the BSP lost catastrophically to the conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria , abbreviated GERB , is a Bulgarian centre-right political party established on March 13 2006. It has been Bulgaria's ruling party since 2009....
(GERB), obtaining a mere 36 out of 240 parliamentary seats (18%), and remained in opposition.
The incumbent President of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov is a President of Bulgaria, whose second and last mandate expires on January 22, 2012; he was elected after defeating his predecessor Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the presidential elections in November 2001 and he came into office on January 22, 2002...
, is a former chairman of the BSP.
Saddam's oil vouchers
The party received 12000000 barrels (1,907,847,540 l) worth of oil vouchers in the United Nations Oil-for-Food ProgrammeOil-for-Food Programme
The Oil-for-Food Programme , established by the United Nations in 1995 was established with the stated intent to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs for ordinary Iraqi citizens without allowing Iraq to boost its military...
, according to the paper "The Beneficiaries of Saddam's Oil Vouchers: The List of 270".
However, this allegation had little impact on the public image of the party at the time it was unveiled.
List of chairmen
- Aleksandar Lilov (1990–1991)
- Zhan VidenovZhan VidenovZhan Vasilev Videnov was prime minister of Bulgaria from 25 January 1995 until 13 February 1997, a term remembered for the most severe economic and financial crisis in recent Bulgarian history. He was chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party from 1991 to 1996.-Education:Zhan Videnov graduated...
(1991–1996) - Georgi ParvanovGeorgi ParvanovGeorgi Sedefchov Parvanov is a President of Bulgaria, whose second and last mandate expires on January 22, 2012; he was elected after defeating his predecessor Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the presidential elections in November 2001 and he came into office on January 22, 2002...
(1996–2001) - Sergei Stanishev (2001–present)
External links
- Official website
- Bulgarian Subject Files Open Society Archives, Budapest