This article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Bulgaria. It is limited to liberal and radicalparties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it is not necessary that parties label themselves as a liberal party.
Background
Liberalism was a dominant political force at the end of the nineteenth century. The current got strongly divided.
History
After the restoration of democracy in 1990, some parties got a liberal character.
Liberalism is now represented by the mainly Turkish minority party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (Dviženie za prava i svobodi, observer LI, member ELDR), the National Movement for Simeon II (Nacionalno Dviženie Simeon Vtori, member LI, ELDR) and Democratic Bulgaria (Demokratichna Balgariya), both taking a more or less liberal position.
From Liberal Party to Democratic Party
1879: Liberal forces united in the Liberal Party (Liberalna Partija)[1]
1884: A right-wing faction formed the ⇒ Progressive Liberal Party
1886: Another right-wing faction formed the ⇒ People's Liberal Party
1887: A third faction formed the ⇒ Radoslav Liberal Party
1896: The party is renamed into Democratic Party (Demokratičeska Partija)
1905: A radical faction seceded as the ⇒ Radical Democratic Party
Radoslavist Liberal Party / National Liberal Party
1887: A right-wing faction of the ⇒ Liberal Party formed the Radoslav Liberal Party (Liberalna-Radoslavistka Partija)
1904: A right-wing faction seceded as the ⇒ Tonchevist Young Liberal Party
1920: The party merged with the ⇒ Tonchevist Young Liberal Party and the ⇒ People's Liberal Party into the National Liberal Party (Nacionalliberalna Partija)
1934: The party is banned by the dictatorship
Tonchevist Young Liberal Party
1904: A right-wing faction of the ⇒ Radoslav Liberal Party seceded as the Tonchevist Young Liberal Party (Mladoliberalna Partija-Tončevisti)
1990s: The party took part in various electoral alliances with decreasing success
Movement for Rights and Freedoms
1990: Representatives of the Turkish minority formed the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (Dviženie za Prava i Svobodi), that develops in a more or less liberal direction
National Movement for Simeon II
2001: Followers of the ex-king formed the personalist National Movement for Simeon II (Nacionalno Dviženie Simeon Vtori), that takes a more or less liberal position in the spectrum
2006: GERB split from NDSV, which adopted more conservative position than NDSV.
2009: The conservative SDS, DSB, the social democratic Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, the agrarian United Agrarians and ⇒ Radical Democratic Party formed the centre-right Blue Coalition, leading to a series of centre-right coalitions which take a more or less liberal position in the spectrum.
2021: ENP and DBG join Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!. KztB and BDO form "We, the Citizens". DS dissolves. Dignity of United People (Достойнството на един народ) split from DBG to join Democratic Bulgaria.
2021: BZNS, KOD, Republicans dor Bulgaria and European Middle Class (SEK) for National Union of the Right (NOD). SEK leaves to join We Continue the Change.
2023: We Continue the Change, SEK, DSB, Yes Bulgaria, BZNS, United Agrarians, as well as the green parties Volt and Green Movement form the PP-DB coalition.
2023: Regional liberal organization „Save Sofia (Spasi Sofia)“ officially becomes a party and runs in a coalition with PP-DB.
2023: Unity (Единение) splits from We Continue the Change.[2]
