Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria , abbreviated GERB ' onMouseout='HidePop("3153")' href="/topics/Coat_of_arms">coat of arms
"), is a Bulgaria
n centre-right political party
established on March 13 2006. It has been Bulgaria
's ruling party since 2009.
GERB is headed by Boyko Borisov
, the current Prime Minister of Bulgaria, former mayor of Sofia, and former bodyguard of the Bulgarian communist leader Todor Zhivkov
and ex-Tsar
Simeon II. The establishment of the party follows 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 upper-case nonetheless.
In early January 2007 and early February 2007, it 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.
Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov's party GERB won Bulgaria's Parliamentary Elections on Sunday, July 5, 2009. According to the parallel vote counting GERB has received 39.7%.
GERB won the 2007 European Parliament election in Bulgaria
, the first time Bulgaria elected Members of the European Parliament, with 21.69% or 419,301 votes. The party elected five MEPs and joined the EPP-ED 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
(EPP) and joined EPP on February 7, 2008.
On September 4, 2011 GERB announced its candidates for President and Vice President of Bulgaria - Rosen Plevneliev
and Margarita Popova
, both of whom won the elections.
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
"), is a 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 centre-right political party
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...
established on March 13 2006. It has been 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...
's ruling party since 2009.
GERB is headed by Boyko Borisov
Boyko Borisov
Boyko Metodiev Borisov is a Bulgarian politician who has been Prime Minister of Bulgaria since July 2009. Previously he was Mayor of Sofia from 8 November 2005 until his election as Prime Minister....
, the current Prime Minister of Bulgaria, former mayor of Sofia, and former bodyguard of the Bulgarian communist leader Todor Zhivkov
Todor Zhivkov
Todor Khristov Zhivkov was a communist politician and leader of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from March 4, 1954 until November 10, 1989....
and ex-Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Simeon II. The establishment of the party follows the creation of a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
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 upper-case nonetheless.
In early January 2007 and early February 2007, it came second in public polls on party support with around 14%, trailing the Bulgarian Socialist Party
Bulgarian Socialist Party
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....
which had around 25%; its stated priorities are fighting crime and corruption, preserving family as the cornerstone of society and achieving energy independence.
Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov's party GERB won Bulgaria's Parliamentary Elections on Sunday, July 5, 2009. According to the parallel vote counting GERB has received 39.7%.
GERB won the 2007 European Parliament election in Bulgaria
European Parliament election, 2007 (Bulgaria)
Bulgaria elected its members of the European Parliament in a by-election on 20 May 2007. It was the country's first European election, having joined the Union on 1 January of that year. The country now has 18 MEPs, no change from before the election. Previously Bulgaria was represented by MEPs...
, the first time Bulgaria elected Members of the European Parliament, with 21.69% or 419,301 votes. The party elected five MEPs and joined the EPP-ED 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
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
(EPP) and joined EPP on February 7, 2008.
On September 4, 2011 GERB announced its candidates for President and Vice President of Bulgaria - Rosen Plevneliev
Rosen Plevneliev
Rosen Plevneliev is a Bulgarian politician. He was Minister of Regional Development and Public Works from 2009 to 2011 as part of the cabinet of Boyko Borisov...
and Margarita Popova
Margarita Popova
Margarita Stefanova Popova is Bulgarian jurist, prosecutor, educator and former Minister of Justice in the cabinet of Boyko Borisov...
, both of whom won the elections.