Youth Union of Democratic Forces /YUDF/
On 1 March 1993 a Youth Union of Democratic Forces was founded under
the UDF.
The constitutive conference of the Youth Union of Democratic Forces
was held on 3-4 April 1999. Velislav Velichkov, UDF MP, was elected
President, and his colleague from the Blue parliamentary group, Viktoria
Vassileva became Secretary.
At the opening of the forum Prime Minister and UDF leader Ivan Kostov
declared that the youth organization was meant to fulfil the key task of
generating municipal councillors and mayors.
The Statute provides that the age limit for membership in the organization
is 33 years. Expelled from the Youth Union shall be anyone who violates
the UDF Statute by working against the party, supporting other political
formations, or abusing party funds or property. YUDF members shall be also
UDF members.
***
UDF-Affiliated Bulgarian Agrarian National Union - Nikola Petkov faction /BANU Nikola Petkov within the UDF/
The UDF-affiliated Bulgarian Agrarian National Union - Nikola Petkov
faction was founded on 21 December 1991 following BANU's 27th Congress.
It united all those members who were dissatisfied with the election defeat
of BANU-Nikola Petkov. On 29 March 1992, the 2nd National Conference of
the BANU-Nikola Petkov movement within the UDF was declared its 1st Congress.
Adopted were a Programme, and Statute /amended during the 3rd Congress/,
elected were governing bodies. Formulated were the tactical and ideological
differences with the United Agrarian Union. According to the newly adopted
Programme, the new Agrarian Union was defined as a Right Centrist political
formation defending the interests of middle-class owners and of all Bulgarian
citizens who adopt the political and economic programme of the Union, together
with the rest of the political formations within the UDF coalition. In
April 1992 the UDF-affiliated BANU-Nikola Petkov was admitted to full membership
in the UDF. On 6 September 1994 the president of the Union, Gheorghi Petrov,
signed the Political Agreement of the parties and organizations within
the UDF providing for joint participation in the elections that were to
follow. The National Council confirmed the signature of its leader on 22
October 1994. In early November 1994, disappointed with the lists of candidates,
Gheorghi Petrov left the coalition and the leadership of the Union was
assumed by Vladislav Kostov. In the April 1997 parliamentary elections,
the UDF-affiliated BANU-Nikola Petkov signed a political agreement and
participated in the elections as a member of the UDF coalition.
In early June 1998 BANU-Nikola Petkov within the UDF was renamed United
Agrarian Forces - G.M. Dimitrov and Gheorghi Petrov was elected its president
again.
The Union's colours are green and blue. The symbol is a green four-leaved
clover with orange contours.
The flag is made of green fabric with an orange-contoured clove in
the upper left corner and a horizontal blue stripe in the lower part.
Governing bodies: Congress, National Council, Executive Council, and
National Controlling Committee.
In the October 1999 municipal elections BANU-Nikola Petkov obtained
:
In the vote for municipal councillors,
Outside coalitions - 10 369 ballots, 11 seats, 0.32 % of the vote
In coalitions - 24 786 ballots, 35 seats, 0.76% of the vote.
In the mayoral vote,
Outside coalitions - 2 472 ballots, 0 seats, 0.04% of the vote.
In coalitions - 37 697 ballots, 0 seats, 0.67% of the vote.
In the vote for village mayors,
In coalitions - 16 477 ballots, 7 seats, 0.95% of the vote.
The Bulgarian Democratic Forum /BDF/ was formed at the initiative of
the Bulgarian National Legions. It was founded on 13 January 1990. BDF
is the founder of the Freedom Coalition for the Turnovo Constitution.
UDF member, with an observer status, from 18 February 1991, full member
since 9 September 1991. In the elections for the 36th National Assembly
the BDF was given four seats. Its MPs were later joined by 3 independent
deputies and the overall number grew up to 7.
The BDF declared itself to be a new, Democratic- Wing party based on
the principles of Liberalism and the Turnovo Constitution.
It defines itself as a nationalistic organization, which has never
given up Bulgaria's national ideals, but seeks their realization through
peaceful means within the framework of the UN principles and the provisions
of the Helsinki agreements. BDF opposes the Macedonianist national doctrine
and the Turkicization of the population of Bulgarian ethnic identity. It
stands out for the rescission of the present Constitution, seen by the
BDF as "reactionary", and for the restoration of the Turnovo Constitution,
for the annulment the law-decree which instituted the People's Court, as
well as the repeal of 1946 Referendum and all other repressive, in BDF's
view, legislation.
Party organ: the Prelom newspaper. BDF has its youth organization.
Governing bodies: National Supreme Council, National Leadership.
President of the BDF from its establishment up to 1997 was Vassil Zlatarov.
September 1998 - BDF's vice-president Lyubomir Dimitrov became co-president
of the Forum together with Mouravei
Radev.
Dyanko Markov resigned as leader of the BDF.
At the meeting on 23 September 1998, the Forum decided to keep its
status of a UDF-affiliated organization.
The Democratic Party - 1896 /DP-1896/ was established at a Conference
of the Democratic Party held on 10 September 1994 in Sofia by members discontented
with the leadership of the DP and with the party's leader, Stefan
Savov, himself.
The newly established party considers itself to be the true successor
of the old Democratic Party led by Petko Karavelov. DP-1896 declared its
loyalty to the UDF and on 18 October 1994 it was admitted to full membership
in the UDF.
In the parliamentary elections held in December 1994 and April 1997,
respectively, it was included in the UDF list. President of the party from
its foundation till May 1998 was Stoyan
Raichevski.
During the supreme forum of the party, which took place in May 1998,
Valentin
Vassilev, then Minister of Commerce in the Kostov cabinet, was elected
party leader. On the same day, another parallel congress was held with
the participation of 21 party members, who re-elected Stoyan Raichevski
president of the party. After the split, both parties declared that
they would remain affiliated to the UDF.
The EcoGlasnost National Movement /EcoGlasnost NM/ was constituted on
15 June 1991 during the 3rd Conference of the EcoGlasnost associations.
It declared itself to be the successor of the first independent EcoGlasnost
club founded on 11 April 1989, which, on its part, succeeded the Committee
for Environmental Protection of the city of Rousse, and was officially
registered on 12 December 1989. Initially, the EcoGlasnost NM was constituted
as a non-governmental, non-party organization seeking to make analyses
of and work out programmes for environmental issues. Members of EcoGlasnost
were elected deputies to the Grand National Assembly from the UDF list.
After the split in EcoGlasnost, part of the membership formed a political
party, the UDF EcoGlasnost Movement and participated in the elections held
on 13 October 1991 as a UDF member organization.
On 6 March 1993 the EcoGlasnost NM adopted a Programme Declaration
in which its political goals were defined as: full publicity in the sphere
of environment, declassifying all confidential data directly or indirectly
related with human health and living environment conditions, publicity
as to demagogy, falsifications and egoism in politics and social life,
etc. It insisted on a revision of the Constitution, on a radical decommunization
of public life, on accountability for the country's economic, political,
and moral collapse.
EcoGlasnost has been built as a single organization with a centralized
leadership and vertical structure.
Governing bodies: National Conference, Guiding Committee.
Until 1997 its president was Edvin
Sougarev.
In 1997 leader of the party became Ivan
Soungarski.
The Conservative Ecological Party /CEP/ was founded on 1 March 1992
in Sofia. It was registered on 22 April 1992 in accordance with the Law
on Political Parties. Most of its membership are former Green Party members
who joined CEP after the GP had split. From its beginning, CEP is a full
member of the UDF. In October 1993, at the 2nd Congress held in Shoumen,
it adopted the name CEP. CEP has a non-standard party structure. It is
governed by collective bodies called chambers. Beside the Congress, there
are the National Chamber, as well as Political, Ecological, and Controlling
Chambers. Each chamber has its own president. In October 1993 Hristo
Bisserov was elected CEP's leader.
In the parliamentary elections held in 1994 and 1997, CEP participated
with a joint list with the UDF, and CEP members have been part of UDF's
parliamentary group.
Hristo Bisserov's successor to the post of CEP's president became Svetlana
Dyankova, deputy to the 37th and 38th National Assemblies, member of
the National Executive Council of the UDF since February 2000. Re-elected
president of the party in July 2000.
The National Club for Democracy /NCD/ is related to the Club for Glasnost
and Restructuring founded on 3 November 1988, Club for Glasnost and
Democracy from 1 December 1989. In 1990 the latter grew into a Federation
of Clubs for Glasnost and Democracy /FCGD/ with Petko
Simeonov as its leader. On 11 November 1992 a group of FCGD clubs called
a National Conference, named themselves a National Club for Democracy,
and elected Yordan Vassilev its leader . The original FCGD continued its
existence outside the UDF and its initial registration was confirmed by
the court.
NCD defines itself as an independent voluntary organization with a
prevailing membership of intellectuals. NCD seeks to attain a thorough
and unconditional decommunization of public life, the establishment of
a democratic model of development of the country, a modern market-oriented
economy based predominantly on private ownership.
NCD functions in the form of club units. It has and Academic Club,
a Lawyers' Club, a Doctors' Club, a Teachers' Club, etc. The Monarchists
Club is a collective member of the party.
The Club's symbol is a blue rectangular with the NCD initials inscribed
within.
Governing body: National Club Council.
Since January 1993 NCD has been presided by Svetoslav
Louchnikov.
The New Social Democratic Party /NSDP/ was established on 9 January
1990. It is the successor of the Social Democratic Club founded on 30 November
1989. On 24 June 1990 NSDP's then president Petar Markov declared the party
disbanded and joining the BSDP, a step
which was not accepted by the majority of the membership. On 7 July 1990
an Extraordinary National Conference of the NSDP was held during which
P. Markov was expelled and a new Co-ordinating Committee was elected
with Dr. Vassil Mikhailov at the head. Later the NSDP was joined by the
Programme Alternative Club, an ideological trend within the BSDP.
In its programme documents, the NSDP declares that it disagrees with
the ambition of contemporary Social Democracy to bind itself to the idea
of some Socialist model of socioeconomic development. Social Democracy
is seen as Social Liberalism guaranteeing economic freedom and a differentiated
approach in social protection.
NSDP's governing body is the National Co-ordinating Council.
Since its formation, NSDP has been a loyal member of the UDF and its
representatives have been elected from the UDF list in the Grand National
Assembly, the 36th, 37th, and 38th National Assemblies.
At the Conference of the NSDP which took place on 12 December 1998
in Pleven, elected leader became 42 years old
Krassimir Pouhtev,
who stood at the head of those members of the Political Council of the
NSDP that had split from it in 1996. The Conference was called by 9 out
of 15 members of the then operating Political Council. The two rival wings
proclaimed the end of their legal disputes over legitimacy and unified.
According to the newly adopted Statute, the New SDP allows its members
to concurrently join the UDF. The party plans to reform its structures
and seek partnership with the Yordan Nihrizov-led BSDP.
It backs the Kostov government and is for coalition with the UdDF.
In January 2000 SDP held its 43th Regular Congress, which elected its
leader Alexander Marinov, deputy from the Vidin Constituency ticket.
The Social Democratic Party /SDP/ was founded on 28 March 1992 in Varna.
It declares itself to be a Right Social Democratic party. Since its early
days it has been a loyal member of the UDF. It has had deputies elected
to the 36th, 37th, and 38th National Assemblies from the UDF. SDP leader
Ivan Kourtev is Deputy Chair of the 38th National Assembly.
Symbols: circle in which three white arrows are represented against
dark blue background, symbolizing the three principles of the Socialist
International.
Party Patron's Day - St. Elijah's Day.
Governing bodies: Congress, National Committee, Executive Bureau, Control
and Supervision Committee.
Ivan Kourtev has been party leader ever since SDP was founded.
The United Christian Democratic Centre /UCDC/ was founded on 21 April
1990 under the name of United Democratic Centre. A staunch member of the
UDF. UCDC had representatives in the Grand National Assembly and the 36th
National Assembly. The party follows a Right Centrist ideology with a Christian
Democratic and Christian Social orientation.
Since 1 November 1992 it has been member of the European Democratic
Union.
At its 3rd National Forum held in Pleven on 17-18 October 1992 it adopted
the name of United Christian Democratic Centre.
Stoyan Ganev was leader of the party until the 4th National Forum held
on 15-16 May 1993 in Plovdiv, when Stefan
Sofiyanski was elected president of the UCDC. Stoyan Ganev's supporters
left the UCDC and formed the Democratic Centre Party.
UCDC has been a loyal UDF member and has won seats from the UDF in
the 37th and 38th National Assemblies.
Ekaterina Mikhailova,
UCDC vice-president, is leader of the UdDf parliamentary group in the 38th
National Assembly.
In 1996, UCDC leader Stefan Sofiyanski was elected Mayor of Sofia,
and in March - May 1997 he headed the caretaker cabinet.
In the Kostov-led UdDF government, which stepped in office after the
April 1997 election, Alexander
Bozhkov, UCDC member, was deputy prime minister and minister of Industry
until the cabinet shuffle in December 1999.
The Radical Democratic Party /RDP/ was founded in 1902 by Todor Vlaikov
and Naicho Tsanov. It was re-established on 4 December 1989. During its
Congress held on 14-15 July 1990 in Sofia, RDP adopted a Statute and a
Programme, which was updated in 1993.
The renewed RDP was headed first by Prof.
Elka Konstantinova.
In its programme documents the RDP declares itself to be for an open
civil society following the Liberal model. It defends the absolute political
equality right which places public interests above private ones. RDP has
been a regular member of the UDF and has been represented in the Grand
National Assembly, the 36th, 37th, and 38th NAs from the UDF list.
The RDP MPs walked out of the Grand National Assembly and did not sign
the GNA-drafted Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.
A Young Radical Democratic Federation has been formed with the RDP.
In September 1991 RDP was admitted to the Liberal International with
an observer status, and in 1994 it joined the LI as full member.
At the 25th Congress of the RDP which took place on 19-20 June 1993
in Sofia, Alexander
Yordanov was elected party leader. He occupied also the post of parliamentary
chair of the 36th National Assembly.
Party organ of the RDP: Vek 21 weekly with Alexander
Yordanov as editor-in-chief.
Party festival: 24 May
Governing bodies: Congress, National Conference, National Party Council,
NPC Executive Committee, Inspecting Committee.
The Republican Party /RP/ was established on 3 February 1990.
Since 18 February 1992 it has been full member of the UDF. The RP declares
itself to be a successor of the ideas of the National Revival. It
stands for man's freedom and independence to be achieved solely on the
basis of private ownership.
Governing bodies: National Committee, Chair
Party leader: Lenko Roussanov.