Bulgarian National Union - ND Български национален съюз - Нова демокрация | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Boyan Rasate |
| Founded | 19 April 1990[1] |
| Headquarters | Sofia,Bulgaria |
| Ideology | Ultranationalism[2] Bulgarian irredentism Anti-communism Anti-globalism Anti-immigration Hard Euroscepticism Neo-Nazism Strasserism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| European affiliation | Nation Europa (2024–) |
| Colours | White,green,red, andblack |
| National Assembly | 0 / 240 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 17 |
| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
| idem | |
Bulgarian National Union – New Democracy (BNU-ND) (Bulgarian:Български национален съюз - Нова демокрация (БНС-НД)) is anultranationalist political party based inSofia,Bulgaria. The party claims to bepatriotic and purports to protect Bulgarian values, but shows sympathies forNazism. It can also be defined asanti-communist, because of the negative attitude towards certaincommunists in history.[3] Its leader is Boyan Rasate since 2014.[4]
The party opposes the celebration of what it considers non-Bulgarian holidays in the country, including9 May, "Victory Day". It draws attention by stating protests and by practicing civil disobedience.[5] TheSofia Globe considers it aright-wing,nationalistfringe party, and commented that it has an "unblemished record of never winning any seats in elections".
On April 19, 1990, theSofia City Court House registered the political party "Bulgarian National Union 'New Democracy'" based on Article 9 of the Political Parties Act. Its statute was adopted on March 3, 1990, and Ivan Ivanov was elected as chairman. Kiril Ganev became his deputy, and Dimitar Penchev became the party's secretary. The organization's main goal was the revival of Bulgaria - economically and spiritually.[6]
From 2003 to 2019, the party hosted an annual'Lukov March' to commemorate “fallen heroes of Bulgaria” with atorch march, taking place in February in Sofia.[7][8]
On April 30, 2004, changes were made to the party's central leadership. Bogdan Yotsov became the chairman, and Boris Ivanov became the responsible secretary.[6]
On June 6, 2009, Bogdan Yotsov and Boris Ivanov, representing the Bulgarian National Union 'New Democracy', filed an application for registration to participate in the elections for National Assembly deputies on July 5, 2009. A list containing the signatures of 23,374 voters supporting the party was presented. On June 10, the Central Election Commission registered the Bulgarian National Union 'New Democracy' in the register of parties and coalitions for participation in the elections.[6]
Later, the party was led by Boyan Rasate, the former chairman of the Bulgarian National Union organization, and participated for the first time under his leadership in theparliamentary elections in 2014.[4]
In 2020, theSupreme Administrative Court upheld a ban by the Sofia municipality to ban'Lukov March'.[9]
The party condemns theRussian attack on Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, and on February 26, its members attended a protest againstVladimir Putin's aggression.[10] At the protest, the leader of the Bulgarian National Union 'New Democracy', Boyan Rasate, demonstrated his support for theUkrainian nationalists from theAzov Brigade by waving their flag.[11]
The party wants a strong centralized state power and rejects the currentmulti-partyparliamentary democracy, calling it "compromised".[12] It wants to dissolve all political parties and all organizations that it claims undermine the foundations of the Bulgarian state and society. The National Assembly should be composed of professionals, elected on a regional basis and competent in their field representatives of different backgrounds and professions. The means of production and the national economy can be both private and public, but the strategic sectors of the economy and public life are to be owned by Bulgarian state.
It favors aconscript army for men and women, and considers the Bulgarian "homeland" to belarger than its current borders. Bulgarian minorities outside of the Republic of Bulgaria are an integral part of the Bulgarian nation and state should protect their interests by any means – such regions includeThrace,Macedonia andDobruja.
| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Boyan Rasate | 5,559 | 0.17 (#21) | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary |
| Apr 2021 | 2,936 | 0.09 (#26) | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary | |
| Jul 2021 | 4,690 | 0.17 (#15) | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary | |
| Nov 2021 | 1,099 | 0.04 (#27) | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2022 | 1,849 | 0.07 (#26) | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary | |
| 2023 | 1,753 | 0.07 (#20) | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary | |
| Jun 2024 | 2,163 | 0.10 (#28) | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary | |
| Oct 2024 | 2,230 | 0.09 (#22) | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary |
| Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Boyan Rasate | 1,956 | 0.10 (#27) | 0 / 17 | New | – |
In 2015, thegovernment of Russia announced against the holding of the'Lukov March' and accused the organizations supporting it ofNeo-Nazism.[13]
On 11 February 2011 Secretariat of European Network against Racism (ENAR) in Brussels sent a letter to Mrs. Jordanka Fandakova, the Mayor of Sofia Municipality. With this letter, ENAR insists the Lukov March scheduled for tomorrow (12 February 2011) be cancelled. ENAR also is calling on the Municipality of Sofia to forbid such public demonstrations of racial and neo-Nazi ideas in the future. [...]
Ние отхвърляме сегашната многопартийна парламентарна демокрация като форма на управление, която е компрометирана, не кореспондира с манталитета и историческите нужди на Българския народ и като такава се явява вредна за съдбините му.