Blue Coalition Explained

Blue Coalition
Native Name:	Синя коалиция
Native Name Lang:	bg
Colorcode:	0C4DA2
Leader:	Ivan Kostov Martin Dimitrov
Predecessor:	United Democratic Forces
Successor:	Reformist Bloc
Position:	Centre-right
Headquarters:	Sofia, Bulgaria
Country:	Bulgaria

The Blue Coalition (Bulgarian: Синята коалиция|Sinyata koalitsia) was a centre-right^[1] electoral alliance in Bulgaria, whose members were the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS), Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) and three smaller parties. The members of the European Parliament elected on the coalition's list sat with the group of the European People's Party.^[2]

Members

2009

• Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) — Съюз на демократичните сили (СДС)
• Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) — Демократи за силна България (ДСБ)
• United Agrarians — Обединени земеделци
• Bulgarian Social Democratic Party (BSDP) — Българска социалдемократическа партия (БСДП)
• Radical Democratic Party in Bulgaria (RDPB) — Радикалдемократическа партия в България (РДПБ)

Elections results

• In the 2009 European Parliament election, the coalition's first appearance in an election, the Blue Coalition gathered 7.95% of all votes in Bulgaria, earning one seat in the European Parliament^[3] for Nadezhda Mihaylova.^[4] The coalition failed to earn a second European Parliament seat by 0.01%, or a few hundred votes at the expense of NDSV.^[5]
• In the 2009 Bulgarian parliamentary election, the coalition won 6,8% of the popular vote and 15 of 240 seats
• The October 2011 presidential elections were a disaster for the coalition. Their candidate, Rumen Hristov, secured only 1.95% of the popular vote. Strong rifts emerged in the coalition as the SDS and the DSB failed to reach a consensus on candidates for the municipal elections - also held in October.^[6]

Dissolution

On 15 May 2012 the Union of Democratic Forces National Council voted 49-34 to leave the Blue Coalition and stand alone in the next parliamentary elections. This move came after negotiations between the two major powers of the coalition, SDS and DSB, concluded that the coalition must be dissolved.^[7] With the SDS out of the coalition, the DBS decided to run alone, bringing the Blue Coalition to an end.^[8] This move worried some as polls suggested neither of the two parties would be capable of crossing the 4% threshold in the upcoming election.

See also

• Reformist Bloc

Notes and References

1. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120504223357/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2118.html. Political Parties and Leaders. 2012-05-04. The World Factbook. dead. Central Intelligence Agency. 2019-05-14.
2. News: Синята коалиция. Дневник. Bulgarian. 2009-06-12.
3. Web site: Разпределение на мандатите. Избори за членове на Европейския парламент от Република България 2009. Bulgarian. 2009-06-12. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090612083404/http://rezultati.cikep2009.eu/mandates/index.html. 2009-06-12.
4. Web site: Избрани членове на Европейския парламент от Република България. Избори за членове на Европейския парламент от Република България 2009. Bulgarian. 2009-06-12. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090612082846/http://rezultati.cikep2009.eu/elected/index.html. 2009-06-12.
5. Web site: Синята коалиция поиска ръчно преброяване. 2006-06-09. News.bg. Bulgarian. 2009-06-12.
6. Web site: Bulgarian Rightists to Stand Alone in 2013 Elections. Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. 6 March 2014.
7. Web site: Bulgarian PM Wishes Success to Split Right Wing. Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. 6 March 2014.
8. Web site: Bulgarian Rightists to Stand Alone in 2013 Elections. Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. 6 March 2014.