{{Short description|Bulgarian political party}} {{Citation style|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox political party | name = Democratic Bulgaria | native_name = Демократична България | logo = Лого Демократична България.svg | logo_size = 250px | colorcode = {{Political party data|color}} | abbreviation = DB | leader1_title = Leaders | leader1_name = Ivaylo Mirchev<br>Bozhidar Bozhanov<br>Atanas Atanasov | founders = Hristo Ivanov<br>Atanas Atanasov | foundation = {{start date and age|2018|04|12|df=y}} | predecessor = Reformist Bloc | national = PP–DB (2023{{en dash}}2026) | colours = {{color box|{{Political party data|color}}|border=darkgray}} Blue {{color box|#FFFFFF|border=darkgray}} White {{color box|#008733|border=darkgray}} Green {{color box|#B10C1A|border=darkgray}} Red | position = Centre-right<ref>{{cite news |last=Petkova |first=Mariya |title=Bulgaria rocked by protests amid coronavirus fears |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/buglaria-rocked-protests-coronavirus-fears-200712173239817.html |work=Al Jazeera |date=12 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dimitrov |first=Martin |title=How a bizarre beach plot landed Bulgaria's longtime PM in hot water |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/20/political-storm-threatens-to-engulf-bulgarias-longtime-pm |work=The Guardian |date=20 August 2020}}</ref> | ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap| |Liberal conservatism<ref name="Nordsieck">{{Cite web |url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/bulgaria.html |author=Wolfram Nordsieck |title=Bulgaria |work=Parties and Elections in Europe}}</ref> |Conservative liberalism<ref>{{cite news |title=Bulgaria's new government can get to work |url=https://www.eurotopics.net/en/273321/bulgaria-s-new-government-can-get-to-work |work=Eurotopics |date=16 December 2021}}</ref> |Liberalism (Bulgarian){{refn|<ref>{{cite news |last=Wölfl |first=Adelheid |title=Bulgarische Regierung verliert Mehrheit im Parlament |url=https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000136497381/bulgarische-regierung-verliert-mehrheit-im-parlament |work=Der Standard |date=12 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="TS">{{cite news |title=Knapper Vorsprung für Anti-Korruptions-Partei |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/bulgarien-praesidentenwahl-parlamentswahl-103.html |work=Tagesschau |date=14 November 2021}}</ref>}} |Anti-corruption<ref name="TS"/> |Pro-Europeanism<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.euractiv.de/section/all/news/atomkraftprojekt-mit-russischen-reaktoren-spaltet-bulgarische-politik/|title=Bau von russischem Atomkraftwerk spaltet Bulgarien|first1= Emiliya|last1=Milcheva|first2=Krasen|last2=Nikolov|newspaper=Euractiv|date=February 21, 2022|via=www.euractiv.de}}</ref> }} | european = European People's Party{{efn|DaB! has expresses interest in joining the EPP and DSB is a full member.}} | website = {{Political party data|website}} | country = Bulgaria <!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127205 -->| seats1_title = National Assembly | seats1 = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}} | seats2_title = European Parliament | seats2 = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}} }} '''Democratic Bulgaria''' ('''DB''', {{langx|bg|Демократична България|translit=Demokratichna Balgariya}}, ДБ) is a political alliance and a Parliamentary group in Bulgaria. Founded on 12 April 2018 as an electoral alliance between three political parties – DaB, DSB and the Green Movement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/politika/2018/04/12/3161146_dsb_da_bulgariia_i_zelenite_uchrediavat_obedinenie/|title=ДСБ, "Да, България" и "Зелените" учредяват обединение "Демократична България"|first=Георги А.|last=Ангелов|date=April 12, 2018|website=Dnevnik}}</ref> It merged into PP–DB in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 February 2023 |title=ПП и ДБ официално подписаха споразумението за общо явяване на изборите |url=https://novini.bg/bylgariya/izbori/765454 |access-date=13 February 2023 |website=novini.bg |language=bg}}</ref> however in April 2026 PP and DB formed two separate groups in Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Николаева |first=Росица |date=2026-04-30 |title=Шест парламентарни групи в новото Народно събрание |url=https://eurocom.bg/2026/04/30/shest-parlamentarni-grupi-shte-rabotyat-v-52-oto-narodno-sabranie/ |access-date=2026-04-30 |website=eurocom.bg |language=bg-BG}}</ref> The Green Movement left PP–DB in 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 2024 |title="Зелено движение" напуска ПП-ДБ, ще се явява отделно на изборите |website=mediapool.bg |language=bg |url=https://www.mediapool.bg/zeleno-dvizhenie-napuska-pp-db-shte-se-yavyava-otdelno-na-izborite-news358247.html}}</ref> but DaB and DSB maintain close relations and brand themselves as "Democratic Bulgaria".
== History == The creation of Democratic Bulgaria was officially announced through the symbolic signing of a declaration entitled "A Democratic Bulgaria Can Do More". The three parties united after several months of talks on cooperation during the next general election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapool.bg/demokratichna-bulgaria-poe-na-bitka-sreshtu-korupitsonniya-model-na-gerb-bsp-i-dps-news277890.html|title="Демократична България" пое на битка срещу корупицонния модел на ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС|website=Mediapool.bg|date=12 April 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://clubz.bg/66565-demokratichna_bylgariq_sreshtu_korupcionniq_model_na_gerb_bsp_i_dps_video|title="Демократична България" срещу "корупционния модел на ГЕРБ, БСП и ДПС" (ВИДЕО)|date=12 April 2018}}</ref> In its manifesto, the union set out its main goals, including to be an alternative to the current government and to consolidate Bulgaria's democratic values and Euro-Atlantic choices.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://demokrati.bg/manifest/|title=Демократична България може много повече | Демократична България|access-date=2020-07-13|archive-date=2021-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111043234/https://demokrati.bg/manifest/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Structure == The Democratic Bulgaria structure has two co-leaders – Hristo Ivanov of Yes, Bulgaria! and Atanas Atanasov of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria. The leaders of The Greens – Vladislav Panev and Borislav Sandov – also participate in the union's council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capital.bg/politika_i_ikonomika/bulgaria/2018/04/10/3160569_dsb_da_bulgariia_i_zelenite_se_obediniavat_v_sujuz/|title=ДСБ, "Да, България" и "Зелените" се обединяват в съюз "Демократична България"|website=www.capital.bg|date=10 April 2018 }}</ref>
At the Congress of Yes, Bulgaria!, Hristo Ivanov proposed the formation of a joint board between the three DB member parties in order to coordinate decision making between the three parties, with PP similarly invited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapool.bg/da-bulgaria-shte-kandidatstva-v-enp-predlaga-obsht-bord-na-dsb-i-zeleno-dvizhenie-news356956.html|title="Да, България" ще кандидатства в ЕНП, предлага общ борд на ДСБ и "Зелено движение"|website=Mediapool|date=9 March 2024 }}</ref>
===Composition=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" !style="width:200px" colspan="2" |Party !style="width:50px" |{{abbr|Abbr.|Abbreviation}} !Founded !Leader !Ideology !MPs !MEPs |- | bgcolor={{party color|Yes, Bulgaria!}} | |Yes, Bulgaria!<br/><small>{{lang|bg|Да, България!}}</small> |'''DaB!''' |{{start date|2017|1|7|df=y}} |Hristo Ivanov |Liberalism<br>Anti-corruption<br>Pro-Europeanism |{{Composition bar compact|14|240|{{party color|Yes, Bulgaria!}}}} |{{Composition bar compact|0|17|{{party color|Yes, Bulgaria!}}}} |- | bgcolor="{{party color|Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria}}" | |Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria<br/><small>{{lang|bg|Демократи за силна България}}</small> | align="center" |'''DSB''' |{{start date|2004|5|30|df=y}} |Atanas Atanasov |Liberal conservatism<br>Pro-Europeanism<br>Anti-communism |{{Composition bar compact|6|240|{{party color|Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria}}}} |{{Composition bar compact|1|17|{{party color|Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria}}}} |- |}
== Political positions ==
=== Finance === Some of DB's priorities are Bulgaria's Eurozone and Banking union membership, a reduction of budget spending to 1/3 of the GDP, as well as taxation reform, with a reduction of VAT from 20% to 18% and a non-taxable minimum of the income tax.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://demokrati.bg/sector/finansi/|title=Финанси | Демократична България|access-date=2020-07-13|archive-date=2021-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027075140/https://demokrati.bg/sector/finansi/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Defense === In the sphere of defense, the party seeks public support of the Armed Forces using the Social contract of defensive politics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://demokrati.bg/sector/otbrana/|title=Отбрана | Демократична България|access-date=2020-07-13|archive-date=2021-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110164803/https://demokrati.bg/sector/otbrana/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Presidential endorsement === For the 2021 Bulgarian presidential election, DB supported the election bid of Lozan Panov, the chairman of the Bulgarian supreme court.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Democratic Bulgaria supports Lozan Panov for president|url=https://bnr.bg/en/post/101537142/democratic-bulgaria-supports-lozan-panov-for-president|access-date=2021-10-23|website=bnr.bg|language=en}}</ref>
== Election results ==
=== 2019 European Parliament election === In order to select its candidates, Yes, Bulgaria! conducted a remote preliminary election. Those willing to vote could do it digitally using the mobile app of Yes, Bulgaria! or by mail.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://dabulgaria.bg/nominiraj-za-evropejskiya-parlament/|title=Вътрешни избори: често задавани въпроси|access-date=2020-07-13|archive-date=2019-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322065548/https://dabulgaria.bg/nominiraj-za-evropejskiya-parlament/|url-status=dead}}</ref> All members of Yes, Bulgaria! had the right to participate, together with everyone who received an invitation from a current party member.<ref name="auto1" /> The electoral process began on 27 November 2018, and the final results were declared on 11 February 2019. A total of 5898 people voted, and the candidate with the most votes was Stefan Tafrov, a diplomat and former ambassador.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capital.bg/politika_i_ikonomika/bulgaria/2019/02/11/3388506_stefan_tafrov_specheli_vutreshnite_izbori_na_da/|title=Стефан Тафров спечели вътрешните избори на "Да, България" за евродепутати|website=www.capital.bg|date=11 February 2019 }}</ref>
The candidate of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria for the European elections Svetoslav Malinov was selected through a resolution during the party's National Congress on 12 November 2018.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://bntnews.bg/bg/a/dsb-izdiga-svetoslav-malinov-kato-vodeshch-kandidat-za-izborite-za-ep|title=ДСБ издига Светослав Малинов като водещ кандидат за изборите за ЕП - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини|website=news.bnt.bg}}</ref> Malinov has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2009 as a member of the European People's Party.<ref name="auto" />
On February 22, 2019, The Greens announced their primary candidate for the elections – Albena Simeonova – an environmentalist and entrepreneur in the sphere of bio agriculture. She was elected through an online vote on the website of the party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zelenite.bg/18448|title=Албена Симеонова и Росен Богомилов са водещите кандидати на Зелените за евроизборите|date=February 22, 2019|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302140013/https://www.zelenite.bg/18448|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Democratic Bulgaria eventually won one seat in the 2019 European Parliament election, which went to DSB member Radan Kanev.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bntnews.bg/bg/a/radan-knev-e-evrodeputatt-na-demokratichna-blgariya|title=Радан Кънев е евродепутатът на "Демократична България" - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини|website=news.bnt.bg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nova.bg/news/view/2019/05/27/251842/%D0%BD%D1%8F%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B2-%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%BA%D1%8A%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B2-%D0%B5-%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F|title=Няма разместване в листата, Радан Кънев е евродепутатът на "Демократична България"|website=nova.bg}}</ref>
=== 2019 Local elections === Local elections were held across Bulgaria on 27 October 2019, with Democratic Bulgaria failing to win a single mayoral contest, but far exceeding expectations in the capital Sofia, where they won 8 out of 25 districts, including most of the city center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/politika/2019/11/04/3986537_gerb_i_demokratichna_bulgariia_shte_imat_nai-mnogo/|title="Демократична България" ще има кметове в 8 столични района, ГЕРБ - в 12|first=Михаил Стоянов, Анна|last=Христова|date=November 4, 2019|website=Dnevnik}}</ref> The results were seen as a serious setback for the ruling party GERB, which had until then maintained a strong hold on the capital, winning 23 out of 25 districts in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vesti.bg/bulgaria/iznenada-pri-rajonnite-kmetove-v-sofiia-sled-okonchatelnite-rezultati-6101632|title=Изненада при районните кметове в София след окончателните резултати|website=Vesti.bg|language=bg|access-date=2019-11-04}}</ref>
==Electoral history== ===National Assembly=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" |- ! Election ! Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/– ! Government |- ! Apr 2021 | 302,280 | 9.45 (#5) | {{Composition bar|27|240|hex={{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | New | {{partial2|Snap election}} |- ! Jul 2021 | 345,331 | 12.64 (#4) | {{Composition bar|34|240|hex={{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | {{increase}} 7 | {{partial2|Snap election}} |- ! Nov 2021 | 166,966 | 6.37 (#6) | {{Composition bar|16|240|hex={{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | {{decrease}} 18 | {{yes2|Coalition}} |- ! 2022 | 186,511 | 7.45 (#6) | {{Composition bar|20|240|hex={{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | {{increase}} 4 | {{partial2|Snap election}} |- ! 2023 | style="text-align:center" rowspan=4 colspan=2|PP–DB | {{Composition bar|26|240|{{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | {{increase}} 6 | {{yes2|Coalition}} |- ! Jun 2024 | {{Composition bar|17|240|{{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | {{decrease}} 9 | {{partial2|Snap election}} |- !Oct 2024 | {{Composition bar|18|240|{{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | {{increase}} 1 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !2026 | {{Composition bar|21|240|{{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | {{increase}} 3 | {{no2|Opposition}} |}
===European Parliament=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" |- ! Election ! Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/– |- ! 2019 | 118,484 | 6.06 (#5) | {{Composition bar|1|17|hex={{party color|Democratic Bulgaria}}}} | New |- |} == Notes == {{Notelist}} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Bulgarian political parties}} Category:Anti-corruption parties Category:Conservative liberal parties Category:Conservative parties in Bulgaria Category:Defunct political party alliances in Bulgaria Category:Liberal parties in Bulgaria Category:Political parties established in 2018