Revival
Възраждане
LeaderKostadin Kostadinov
Founded2 August 2014 (2014-08-02)
Split fromIMRO–BNM
HeadquartersHristo Botev blvd. 111, Sofia
Membership10,000+
Ideology
Political positionFar-right[7][8]
European affiliationIdentity and Democracy Party (cooperation since 2023)
Colors  Black
  Gold
Slogan"Trust in Bulgaria!"
(Bulgarian: "Повярвай в България!")
National Assembly
37 / 240
European Parliament
0 / 17
Municipalities
1 / 265
Website
www.vazrazhdane.bg

Revival (Bulgarian: Възраждане, romanized: Vazrazhdane) is a far-right and ultranationalist political party in Bulgaria, founded in August 2014. Its chairman is Kostadin Kostadinov. The party is defined by various analysts and media as pro-Russian, anti-EU, anti-NATO, anti-American, being opposed to COVID-19 vaccinations and spreading anti-vaccine[9][10] and anti-LGBT[11][12] rhetoric.

History

In June 2014, Kostadin Kostadinov told media that there would be a Constituent Assembly on 2 August of the same year in the city of Pliska to create the party "Revival". The founders choose the day that is the celebrated anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising.[13][14] Kostadinov founded the party after he became unhappy following Krasimir Karakachanov's reelection as leader of IMRO-BNM in 2012.

2021–2023 crisis

The party has grown rapidly due to the 2021–2023 Bulgarian political crisis. They first entered the Bulgarian National Assembly after the 2021 general election, gaining 13 seats. A member of Revival's parliamentary group left them in June 2022.[15] The party would more than double its presence in the assembly, gaining 14 more seats in the 2022 general election and gained another 10 seats in the 2023 general election bringing their total seats to 37.[16][17] This comes as the country draws closer to its adoption of the Euro while the government is financially backing Ukraine in their defense against Russia. Only 30% of Bulgarians view Russia as a threat, and far more are worried about rising inflation and possible economic concerns with the adoption of the Euro. Despite the party's pro-Russian rhetoric, observer Vesela Tcherneva, from the European Council on Foreign Relations, says that “Putin has lost some popularity so the campaign is not pro-Russia but anti-west, but it’s the other side of the same coin”.[18] Additionally, the party has called for a public referendum on withdrawal from NATO and "normalization" of relations with Russia. The party has also supported the expansion of the Russia gas company Lukoil's presence in the country and to "renegotiate the conditions with the EU" either for a special status, or possible withdrawal.[19]

Additionally, the party launched a petition that proposes postponing the adoption of the Euro until further notice. The petition collected over 604,000 signatures, significantly more than the 200,000 necessary to suggest a future referendum on the matter.[20]

Leadership

  • Kostadin Kostadinov – Chairman
  • Velislav Hristov – Vice chairman
  • Petar Petrov – Vice chairman
  • Tsoncho Ganev – Vice chairman
  • Nikolay Drenchev – Secretary

Electoral history

National Assembly

Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/– Status
2017 Kostadin Kostadinov 37,896 1.11 (#11)
0 / 240
 New Extra-parliamentary
Apr 2021 78,395 2.41 (#9)
0 / 240
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Jul 2021 82,147 2.97 (#8)
0 / 240
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary
Nov 2021 127,568 4.86 (#7)
13 / 240
 Increase 13 Opposition
2022 254,952 9.83 (#4)
27 / 240
 Increase 14 Snap election
2023 358,174 13.58 (#3)
37 / 240
 Increase 10 Opposition

European Parliament

Election # of seats won # of total votes # of votes from abroad  % of popular vote Rank
2019
0 / 17
 20,319 1,025 1.04% 13th

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bulgarian Ultranationalists Protest Government's Coronavirus Measures". Radio Free Europe. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Ultra-nationalist party stages anti-government protest in Sofia". Reuters. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 Kolchev, Vasil (18 November 2021). "Bulgaria's general election outcome boosts chances to break political stalemate - Moody's". SeeNews.
  4. 1 2 Dzhambazova, Boryana (20 June 2022). "Bulgaria's government faces collapse this week". Politico. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bulgaria government collapses after no-confidence vote". Deutsche Welle. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  6. ↑ Paunova, Polina (22 November 2021). "It Denies COVID And Wants Out Of NATO And The EU. Now Bulgaria's Pro-Kremlin, Far-Right Revival Party Is In Parliament". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Todorov, Svetoslav (26 January 2022). "Risks of Revival: The Bulgarian Far-Right's Latest Incarnation". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  8. ↑ Petrova, Valentina; McGrath, Stephen (22 June 2022). "Bulgaria's no-confidence vote could hamper EU expansion". Associated Press. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Simeonova, Elitsa; Wesolowsky, Tony (October 2022). "Revival on the Rise: Ahead of Elections, Far-Right Party is Tapping into Bulgarian Public Anger". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  10. ↑ "Bulgaria's Troubled Coalition Faces No-confidence Vote". 15 June 2022.
  11. ↑ Kostadinov, Kostadin (7 January 2019). "Нетолерантността на толерантните, или как Фейсбук неусетно се превърна в Гейбук [The intolerance of the tolerant, or how Facebook imperceptibly turned into Gaybook]". kostadin.eu. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  12. ↑ ""Възраждане" се закани да забрани всяка пропаганда на хомосексуализъм сред деца и възрастни [Revival threatened to ban all propaganda of homosexuality among children and adults]". Trud. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  13. ↑ ""Нова националистическа партия учредяват в Плиска"" (in Bulgarian). cross.bg. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  14. ↑ ""Костадин Костадинов слага началото на нова партия"" (in Bulgarian). utre.bg. Archived from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  15. ↑ "Елена Гунчева напуска Народното събрание и "Възраждане"". BNT. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Bulgaria gears for its fifth election in two years on April 2". Reuters. 24 January 2023. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  17. ↑ "Former Bulgarian premier faces struggle to build coalition". Financial Times. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  18. ↑ Dunai, Marton (2 April 2023). "Pro-Russia party shakes up Bulgarian politics". Financial Times. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  19. ↑ Simeonova, Elitsa; Wesolowsky, Tony (October 2022). "Revival On The Rise: Ahead Of Elections, Far-Right Party Is Tapping Into Bulgarian Public Anger". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Костадин Костадинов внесе 590 хил. подписа за референдум срещу еврото". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
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