POLITICAL SLIDES IN BULGARIA: STATUS QUO ELECTORATE VS ELECTORATE OF «CHANGES»

In: Naučno-analitičeskij vestnik Instituta Evropy RAN, Band 34, Heft 4, S. 33-41

Abstract

More than three decades ago Bulgaria embarked on the path of democratic transformation. During this period, the internal political life of the country went through several stages of development. In the 1990s, it was characterized by the competition of two opposing political camps. The 2000s were marked by the rise of populist parties, the emergence of which twice (in 2001 and 2009) led to a sharp change in the balance of power among parliamentary factions. Much of the 2010s passed under the sign of dominance in the political arena of one hegemonic party (GERB), which was almost continuously in power with the help of «floating majority» tactics. In the 2020s the beginning of a new stage is observed, accompanied by internal political instability and a series of parliamentary elections. This article analyzes the general patterns of development of political processes in Bulgaria, which were observed throughout all of the above stages.