Country: | Bulgaria |
Previous Election: | 1997 |
Next Election: | 2005 |
Election Date: | 17 June 2001 |
Seats For Election: | All 240 seats in the National Assembly |
Majority Seats: | 121 |
Turnout: | 66.63% |
Party1: | National Movement for Stability and Progress |
Percentage1: | 42.74 |
Last Election1: | new |
Seats1: | 120 |
Party2: | United Democratic Forces |
Percentage2: | 18.18 |
Last Election2: | 137 |
Seats2: | 51 |
Party3: | Coalition for Bulgaria |
Percentage3: | 17.15 |
Last Election3: | 58 |
Seats3: | 48 |
Party4: | Movement for Rights and Freedoms |
Percentage4: | 7.45 |
Last Election4: | 19 |
Seats4: | 21 |
Map: | 2001 Bulgarian parliamentary election.png |
Prime Minister | |
Before Election: | Ivan Kostov |
Before Party: | United Democratic Forces |
After Election: | Simeon Sakskoburggotski |
After Party: | National Movement for Stability and Progress |
Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 17 June 2001.[1] The result was a victory for the National Movement – Simeon II, which won 120 of the 240 seats. Following the elections, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the country's last Tsar, who was deposed by the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1946, became prime minister.[2]
The elections came four years after the last parliamentary elections in 1997, marking the first occasion since the fall of communism that a full term had been completed.[2] A total of 65 parties registered for the elections, together with eleven independents.[2]
National Movement – Simeon II was originally prevented from registering by Sofia City Court as it failed to meet the Central Election Committee's requirements. However, after forming an alliance with the Bulgarian Women's Party and the Movement for National Revival, the party was allowed to register.[2]
Following the elections, Simeon Sakskoburggotski became prime minister and formed the Sakskoburggotski Government.
A study in the context of the election investigated which societal groups contribute to electoral volatility on the individual level. The findings described that voters belonging to the Turkish minority contribute to party system stability because they were less likely to switch their vote than their Bulgarian or Roma peers. The authors argue that "ethnic socialization provides information shortcuts for vote choice in low-information environments of new democracies." The case is considered evidence that ethnic minorities with relevant ethnic-linguistic parties in new democracies contribute to party system stability.[3]