Union of the Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)

Infobox Political party
party_name = Union of Democratic Forces
party_
colorcode = #0038A9
chairman = Plamen Yurukov
spokesperson =
foundation = 7 December 1989
membership_year =
membership =
ideology = Christian Democracy
headquarters = 134 Rakovska Str.
Sofia 1000
Bulgaria
international = European People's Party, Christian Democrat International, International Democrat Union
colors = Blue
website = [http://www.sds.bg/ www.sds.bg] The Union of Democratic Forces ( _bg. Съюз на демократичните сили) is a political party in Bulgaria, founded in December 1989, as a union of eleven political organizations in opposition to the Communist government. The following year, six more parties were incorporated, and in February 1997, the Union was transformed into a single unified party, the United Democratic Forces, by then-chairman and Prime Minister-to-be Ivan Kostov. The UDF is a member of the European People's Party (EPP).

A brief history

The dissident groups that formed under the faltering regime of Todor Zhivkov in the late 1980s were the basis for the Union. Once Zhivkov fell, a loose political confederation was envisioned where constituent groups could continue to work for their own cause, while the coordinating council would include three members from each organization. Longtime dissident philosopher Zhelyu Zhelev, who would later become Bulgaria's President, was elected chairman, and Petar Beron, a well-known environmental scientist, was chosen as secretary.

The UDF lost the 1990 elections to the Bulgarian Socialist Party (reformed Communist) but still participated in the joint cabinet of Dimitar Iliev Popov (December 1990 - November 1991). Later the UDF formed its own cabinet with Prime Minister Filip Dimitrov in November 1991, though the cabinet lasted only a little over a year when the government failed a motion of confidence in September 1992. The socialists, together with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, formed a coalition government headed by Prof. Lyuben Berov and then BSP went on to win the 1995 elections.

However, following discontent over economic problems, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov resigned at the end of 1996, clearing the way for new elections, this time won by the UDF with a crushing 55% vote. Party leader Ivan Kostov went on to form the new government and successfully passed several necessary economic reforms, he was eventually rewarded in December 1999 with an invitation to begin membership talks with the European Union. But the painful reforms had their social cost, and public discontent over increased unemployment and allegations of corruption led to the UDF's defeat in the June 2001 elections, which were won by the National Movement for Simeon II. The United Democratic Forces won 18.2% of the popular vote and 51 out of 240 seats in the 2001 elections.

The UDF was chaired until the May 20, 2007 European elections by Petar Stoyanov, former president of the country. Meanwhile, Kostov, the former Prime Minister and UDF party leader went on to form his own party - Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria. At the last legislative elections, 25 June 2005, the United Democratic Forces won 8.4% of the popular vote and 20 out of 240 seats.

It was announced at the inaugural conference of the Movement for European Reform (MER, March 2007) that the UDF would become official partners alongside the British Conservative Party and the Czech Civic Democratic Party (ODS). [http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=135350&speeches=1] In mid April 2007, the UDF backtracked on its decision, stating that it remains loyal to the EPP and that it will never leave the EPP section of the EPP-ED Group to join another Group. In the May 20, 2007 European elections UDF failed to elect even a single MEP, resulting in the resignation of Stoyanov who led the list. The resignation of Stoyanov - who signed-up to MER - will almost certainly result in the withdrawal of UDF from the MER.

List of chairmen

Chairmen of the Coordination Council
* Zhelyu Zhelev (1989–1990)
* Petar Beron (1990)
* Filip Dimitrov (1990–1994)
* Ivan Kostov (1994–1997)

Chairmen and Chairwomen of the unified party
* Ivan Kostov (1997–2001)
* Ekaterina Mikhailova (2001–2002)
* Nadezhda Mikhailova (2002–2005)
* Petar Stoyanov (2005–2007)
* Plamen Yurukov (2007–present)

External links

* [http://www.sds.bg/ Official website]
* [http://www.osaarchivum.org/db/fa/205-4-20-1.htm Bulgarian Subject Files - Political Parties: Union of Democratic Forces] Open Society Archives, Budapest