History of UDF

08 February 2007, 16:02

The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) cherishes and develops the most valuable traditions of Bulgarian democratic political parties which were set up after the reestablishment of the Bulgarian state in the late 19 century. The UDF was created on 7 December 1989, when the anticommunist opposition in Bulgaria united in order to enhance its efforts against the totalitarian communist system.

The founders of the UDF include the Podkrepa (‘Support’) independent trade union, the citizens’ associations Ecoglasnost and Independent Society for Human Rights Protection, the Clubs in Support of Glasnost and Perestroika, the Committee for the Protection of Religious Rights, Freedom of Conscience and Spiritual Values, the Independent Student Society, the Citizen Initiative Movement, and the re-established parties BRSDP (o) (Bulgarian Workers’ Social Democratic Party (united)) and the BZNS (Bulgarian Agrarian National Union, or BANU) Nikola Petkov.

The Union was formed as a coalition, with all participant entities having equal rights. As soon as it was established, it was joined by the reinstituted old Radical Democratic Party of Bulgaria and the Democratic Party, and by the newly set-up Green Party, United Democratic Centre and New Social Democratic Party. The individuals who initiated and implemented this unification included prominent Bulgarian intellectuals who had suffered repression by the communist regime, long-standing activists of political parties which had been banned during communism, and many young people. They were brought together by the idea to launch a strong anticommunist movement that would cover the entire political spectrum and oust the Communist Party from power in general elections. Using the experience of anticommunist movements and parties in Eastern Europe, the UDF set itself the goal to implement democratic reforms on a national scale and to set Bulgaria on the way to membership of the European Union and NATO.

During that time, no other political formation declared these aspirations or pursued these goals.

Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev, later to become Bulgaria’s first President, was elected the first Chairman of the UDF National Coordination Council.

Through a strong oppositional campaign and following the example of the Polish trade union Solidarnosz , UDF succeeded in forcing the ruling BCP (Bulgarian Communist Party) to embark on a process of dismantling the totalitarian system. This was achieved at a National Round Table held between January and March 1990. Agreements were reached to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy and political system reform. This was the first political victory achieved by the UDF under the totalitarian system.

At the general elections held on 10 June 1990 for a Constitutional National Assembly, the UDF won 144 seats versus 211 for the ruling communist party, and remained in opposition. As an opposition, the UDF successfully increased its influence. Parliament elected UDF NCC Chairman Dr. Z. Zhelev President of the Republic. The office of UDF NCC Chairman was held briefly by Dr. Petar Beron, and then by Phillip Dimitrov, who later became Prime Minister.

To speed up the process of change, in the spring of 1991 the UDF supported the participation of its experts in Dimitar Popov’s cabinet, although that cabinet was dominated by the Communist Party. This political move caused mixed reactions in UDF membership and supporters. Many who demanded more radical and hard anticommunist action and objected to any form of collaborationism with the BCP. On 15 May 1991, 39 UDF MPs boycotted Parliament by refusing to attend any of its meetings and declaring an unlimited hunger strike, demanding that the Constitutional Assembly dissolve itself and that new general elections be called. UDF NCC supported the campaign of the 39 MPs and clearly identified the main difficulties for the democratic process and reforms rooted in the new Bulgarian Constitution adopted by the Constitutional Assembly. The UDF enjoyed wide support among university students and professors across the country.

Politicians and organisations who disagreed with this policy guidance issued by the NCC left the coalition to spin off into temporary political formations such as UDF Centre and UDF Liberals. These organisations included parts of the BSDP led by that party’s leader, Dr. P. Dertliev, Political Club Ecoglasnost, the Green Party, with its leader Alexander Karakachanov, and the Federation of Clubs for Democracy, where the most prominent political figure was Petko Simeonov. With time, these organisations gravitated towards the Bulgarian Socialist Party and in subsequent years took part in its political projects in various formats.

The UDF retained its unity as a coalition and managed to bring about new parliamentary elections. On 13 October 1991, the UDF scored its first historic success by winning the largest share of the popular vote at the general elections for the 36th National Assembly and returning 110 MPs. Thus, after almost 45 years of totalitarian rule, the BCP was ousted from office.

The Chairman of UDF NCC Phillip Dimitrov was elected Prime Minister, and UDF formed its first cabinet, which included representatives of all parties and organisations in the coalition. The Democratic Party leader Stefan Savov was elected Chairman of the National Assembly, and the Deputy Chairman of the UDF NCC Alexander Yordanov became the chairman of the parliamentary group (later, he was elected Chairman of the 36th National Assembly). The first UDF government launched the most important cross-cutting political and economic reforms: legislation was passed to reinstitute private ownership, the private estates of individuals which had been taken away by the Communist Party and its activists were restored to their rightful owners, Bulgaria joined the Council of Europe and its foreign policy acquired a clear focus on acceding to NATO and the European Union.

The success of the UDF government met with strong resistance on the part of the Communist opposition and the surviving structures of the former State Security Service linked to it. In the summer of 1992, MPs from the third largest political party in Parliament, the Movement for Rights and Liberties (MRL), withdrew its support for Phillip Dimitrov’s government. This resulted in twisting the popular vote and brought down the cabinet. The UDF was once again in opposition.

Although in opposition, through its parliamentary activity and with the support of civil society, the UDF managed to protect the main achievements of Bulgarian democracy. Prominent intellectuals and popular UDF figures openly protested against this act of distorting the poplar will. Although formally elected by Parliament, the cabinet led by former presidential advisor Lyuben Berov, which was supported by the MRL and BSP, did not enjoy the confidence of the public. The most illustrative example of protests was the hunger strike of poet Edwin Sougarev and the resignation of Vice President Blaga Dimitrova. They demanded that President Zhelev resign, having authored the idea to form L. Berov’s cabinet. UDF MPs boycotted Parliament sittings

UDF remained in opposition after the elections for the 37th National Assembly which were won by the BSP. Ivan Kostov was elected Chairman of the Union. The UDF established itself as the only alternative to save Bulgaria from the disastrous government of Zhan Videnov, the BSP Chairman. Even the most vehement critics of the UDF realise that Bulgaria’s only chance to overcome the crisis and get back on the track of reforms and EU and NATO integration was another term in office for the UDF.

At the same time, important structural and organisational changes were under way in the UDF. In 1992 the Union amended its Statute and defined itself as a national movement for democracy, it is structured as a coalition as set up in the coalition agreement. In 1995-1996 the desire of its new leadership and its Chairman Ivan Kostov to enhance unity and pursue a consistent policy led to new amendments to the Statute, paving the way of the UDF as a centre-right political party. This reform resulted in serious turmoil within the coalition, as the parties which were founding members of the UDF were allotted the role of ‘affiliate organisations’. The transformation of the UDF into a party provoked mixed reactions. It strengthened the centralised leadership of the organisation by enabling decisions to be taken by a single person and marginalising the role of local organisations. At the same time, this shrunk the UDF electoral base, freeing political space for other political parties in the centre and right spectrum and turning coalition partners into political rivals.

In an attempt to regain political influence and win the elections for the 38th National Assembly, the UDF went back to the coalition approach and initiated the United Democratic Forces, a coalition which included the UDF and the Democratic Party and BANU ‘People’s Union’. The United Democratic Forces achieved its first victory with the election of Petar Stoyanov President of Bulgaria. The coalition also won the parliamentary elections for the 38th National Assembly. Triumphantly, the UDF was back in government.

The UDF Chairman Ivan Kostov was elected Prime Minister. Yordan Sokolov became the Chairman of Parliament. Very quickly, the UDF government successfully stabilised the country, relaunched the reform process and Bulgaria’s accession process in terms of NATO and EU membership. The government was successful in all areas: reforming the economy, restoring ownership, privatisation, overhauling the social welfare and healthcare system, fighting organised crime and the mafia. The successful foreign policy of the cabinet ensured Bulgaria’s membership in NATO and opening EU accession negotiations. The elimination of the visa requirement for Bulgarian citizens travelling to EU member states was met with strong public support across the country. This record of success is associated with the policies pursued by Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, President Petar Stoyanov and Foreign minister Nadezhda Mihailova.

The successful term of office of the UDF in 1997-2001 was faced with constant attempts to destabilise the country and instigate confrontation. The massive propaganda against the UDF and Prime Minister Ivan Kostov had an effect on some of the voters and in the 2001 elections the popular vote sent the UDF in opposition. Also, new political parties emerged, claiming an active political role in the centre and right.

In the years following 2001, the chairmanship of the UDF was held consecutively by Nadezhda Mihailova and Petar Stoyanov. The party remained in opposition during the government of the NDSV and MRL, with the cabinet headed by Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and during the term in office of the tri-partite coalition between BSP, MRL and NDSV. It suffered a heavy blow by some of its leaders headed by its former Chairman Ivan Kostov (joined by Yordan Sokolov, the Chairman of the 38th National Assembly (UDF), Ekaterina Mihailova, Chairman of the UDF parliamentary group in the 38th National Assembly, Assen Agov, and others), who decided to leave the UDF and set up a new right-wing party. Shortly before that, a similar decision was made by Stefan Sofianski, Mayor of Sofia, who left the UDF to establish a new party. These actions by popular UDF politicians weakened the party considerably and had a negative effect on public support ratings. At the same time, they did not result in the establishment of strong new right-wing parties.

The consequences of the spin-offs became most evident during the 2006 local elections in Sofia when for the first time since the beginning of the democratic changes, the UDF lost the mayoral seat in the capital city. This was followed by a loss at the presidential elections, where the UDF did not nominate a candidate but supported the nomination of the newly established party DSB (Democrats for Strong Bulgaria). An even greater loss was experienced at the first elections for European Parliament, where the UDF failed to return a single MEP. As a result of these electoral losses, the UDF chairmen Nadezhda Mihailova and then Petar Stoyanov resigned.

On 15 July 2007, the 17th National Conference of the UDF elected Plamen Yuroukov Chairman, and a new National Executive Council. The conference delegates stated their support for a new policy of unity, agreement and cooperation among centre-right parties in Bulgaria with the aim to put a stop to the rule of the centre-left coalition. Plamen Yuroukov undertook to democratise and modernise the UDF, so that the party can provide a reasonable and working governance alternative at the 2009 parliamentary elections.