Neutral Bulgaria

Neutral Bulgaria
Неутрална България
LeaderNikolai Malinov
Founded2023
Dissolved2024
Preceded byLeft Union for a Clean and Holy Republic
Succeeded byRussophiles for Bulgaria
IdeologyRussophilia
Anti-NATO
Hard Euroscepticism
Factions:
Communism
Marxism–Leninism
National conservatism
Ultranationalism
Political positionBig tent
Factions:
Far-left to far-right
Colours 

Neutral Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Неутрална България, romanized: Neutralna Balgarija) was a coalition of political parties in Bulgaria created to participate in the 2023 Bulgarian parliamentary election. The members are in support of the Russian Federation and Russian president Vladimir Putin, as well as in opposition to NATO.[1]

History

The coalition was led by Nikolai Malinov, who was personally awarded by Vladimir Putin and has been placed under sanctions from the Magnitsky Act.[2] Volen Siderov stood as the party's candidate in Sofia and Varna.[3] The coalition received 0.40% of the vote, well below the 4% threshold to enter the National Assembly.[4]

The coalition fell apart during the lead-up to the October 2024 parliamentary election due to the ideological gap between the right-winged Russophiles and the left-winged communists, as well as internal opposition within the communist parties due to Malinov's espionage charges.[5] Malinov would go on to form the Russophiles for Bulgaria to contest the elections.[6]

Composition

2023

Party Leader Ideology Position
Attack Volen Siderov Bulgarian nationalism
Ultranationalism 		Far-right
Bulgarian Communist Party Zonka Zlatkova Spasov Communism
Stalinism 		Far-left
Party of the Bulgarian Communists Collective Leadership Communism
Marxism-Leninism 		Far-left
Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland Nikolai Malinov Russophilia
National conservatism 		Right-wing

2024

Party Leader Ideology Position
Communist Party of Bulgaria Aleksandar Paunov Communism
Marxism-Leninism 		Far-left
Bulgarian Communist Party Zonka Zlatkova Spasov Communism
Stalinism 		Far-left
Party of the Bulgarian Communists Collective leadership Communism
Marxism-Leninism 		Far-left
Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland Nikolai Malinov Russophilia
National conservatism 		Right-wing

Electoral history

National Assembly

Election Votes % Seats +/– Government
2023 10,505 0.42 (#9)
0 / 240
 New Extra-parliamentary
Jun 2024 2,462 0.11 (#25)
0 / 240
 Steady Extra-parliamentary

References

  1. ^ "КП КОАЛИЦИЯ НЕУТРАЛНА БЪЛГАРИЯ". dariknews.bg. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Награденият от Путин и санкциониран по Магнитски Николай Малинов оглави листа в Бургас за вота на 2 април". offnews.bg. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Волен Сидеров пожела пак да е депутат и поведе листи в София и Варна". offnews.bg. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Сумарни данни". results.cik.bg. Bulgarian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  5. ^ Zabov, Nikolay. "UPDATED Acting Socialist Leader Withdraws Party Registration for Oct. 27 Elections to Register BSP-Led Coalition". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  6. ^ Solakova, Dimitrina. "Russophiles for Bulgaria Coalition Opens Election Campaign in Pazardzhik". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 28 October 2024.