The Greens (Bulgaria)

The Greens (Зелените Zelenite; officially known as the Green Movement (Bulgarian: Зелено движение, Zeleno dvizhenie) is a green political party of Bulgaria founded in 2008.

Not to be confused with the Green Party of Bulgaria.
Green Movement

Зелено движение
LeaderZaritsa Georgieva
Vladislav Panev
Founded2008
HeadquartersSofia
IdeologyGreen politics
Social Liberalism[1]
Political positionCentre-left[2]
European affiliationEuropean Green Party[3]
International affiliationGlobal Greens (Associate)
ColoursGreen
National Assembly
0 / 240
European Parliament
1 / 17
Website
http://www.zelenite.bg/

History

Zelenite emerged from a number of non-governmental organizations who felt, after years of work in the area of environment protection, human rights, etc. that their work needed serious political backing if it was to have a lasting effect.

A major motivation to found a political party was criticism of various shortcomings in the political system in Bulgaria, including widespread corruption, lack of democratic control, and the general malfunction of state institutions at all levels.

The party had its inaugural meeting in May 2008 in Sofia (capital of Bulgaria). During the following three months, more than 6000 members were registered.

According to its statutes, the party has three chairpersons with equal rights.

In 2019, shortly before the European elections, the party was forced to change its name from "The Greens" to "The Green Movement" because of a decision by Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassation which stated that another party had a right to the name. The leadership of the Green Movement commented for the media: "Unfortunately, the pressure on us comes literally on the eve of the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, and at a time when the Greens, as part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition, we have all chances to become a real political factor opposing the corrupt and populist status quo".[4]

Chairpersons

As first chairpersons were elected Denica Petrova, Andrey Kovachev and Petko Kovachev (2008). A national assembly of the party in May 2010 consisting of about 50 delegates elected a new board of chairpersons with Georg Tuparev, Daniela Bozhinova and Andrey Kovachev.

Programme

The Greens see themselves as part of the network of green parties in Europe. The political programme of the Greens reflects to a large extent the programme of the European Green Party but also includes topics specific for Bulgaria such as changes in the political system in order to overcome inherent problems of governance and democratic control.

Elections

After an effective grassroots campaign, the Greens managed to secure registration for the June 2009 European Parliament elections, and received the official endorsement of the European Green Party.[5] The party gained 0.72%. In the 2009 Bulgarian parliamentary election, the party gained 21,841 Votes, or 0.52%, which made it the ninth party of Bulgaria.

Statistics
Parliament of Bulgaria
Election # of seats won # of total votes # of votes from abroad % of popular vote rank Position after the election Notes
2009
0 / 240
 21,841 1,124 0.52% 9th
Extra-parliamentary
2013
0 / 240
 26,520 1,742 0.75% 14th
Extra-parliamentary
2014
0 / 240
 19,990 1,729 0.61% 11th
Extra-parliamentary
2017
0 / 240
 101,217 11.413 2.96% 7th
Extra-parliamentary
 In a coalition with Yes, Bulgaria! and DEOS
European Parliament
Election # of seats won # of total votes % of popular vote rank Notes
2009
0 / 18
 18,444 0.72% 10th
2014
0 / 17
 12,547 0.56% 11th
2019
1 / 17
 118,484 6.06% 5th In a coalition with Yes, Bulgaria! and Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria

Save Pirin Protests

In 2018, the Greens supported the "Save Pirin" mass protests in Bulgaria against the expansion of the ski area in the Pirin National Park.[6][7]

gollark: Actual religious reasons? Are you one of those worshippers of the Great Block?
gollark: For national security reasons.
gollark: I don't like blocking people.
gollark: They follow laser pointers and stuff.
gollark: Websocket Cat.

References
  1. "Програма на Зелените".
  2. "Програма на Зелените".
  3. EGP website, accessed on 29.7.2013
  4. https://www.mediapool.bg/zelenite-veche-se-kazvat-zeleno-dvizhenie-news292473.html, Mediapool.bg, 22.04.2019
  5. Press Release: European Greens Support European Election Campaigns of LMP in Hungary and Greens in Bulgaria (EGP News)
  6. https://www.dnevnik.bg/zelen/2018/01/18/3114981_petiiat_protest_v_zashtita_na_pirin_subra_hiliadi_v/, Dnevnik, 18.01.2019
  7. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-eu-protests/bulgarians-rally-against-ski-area-expansion-in-national-park-idUSKBN1F02QX, Reuters, 11.01.2019
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