IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement
ВМРО – Българско Национално Движение
LeaderKrasimir Karakachanov
Founded1991 (cultural organisation)
1999 (political party)
Headquarters5th Pirotska Str, Sofia, Bulgaria
NewspaperBulgaria
Youth wingNational Youth Committee of IMRO
Membership (2016)20,000[1]
IdeologyUltranationalism[2][3]
Bulgarian nationalism[4][5]
National conservatism[4][5]
Social conservatism[6][7][8]
Right-wing populism[9]
Soft Euroscepticism[10]
Antiziganism[11][12]
Anti-Islam[13]
Political positionFar-right[14]
ReligionBulgarian Orthodox Church
National affiliationBulgarian Patriots
European Parliament groupEuropean Conservatives and Reformists
Colours  Red
  Black
National Assembly
0 / 240
European Parliament
2 / 17
Municipalities
7 / 265
Party flag
Vmro-bnd-zname.png
Website
vmro.bg
IMRO's headquarters in Sofia

The IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement or IMRO-BNM (Bulgarian: ВМРО – Българско Национално Движение, romanized: VMRO – Balgarsko natsionalno dvizhenie) is a far-right political party in Bulgaria led by Krasimir Karakachanov. It claims to be the successor to the historic Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization.[4]

History[]

The abbreviation IMRO refers to the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, a historic Bulgarian-led revolutionary political organization in the Macedonia and Thrace regions of the Ottoman Empire, founded in the late 19th century.[15] At the time of its establishment in 1991, the name of the organization was IMRO-Union of Macedonian Associations. At the Fourth Congress in 1997, IMRO-UMA dropped the addition UMA.[16] Initially, it was not involved in Bulgarian politics, but after 1994 it became politically active and entered the Bulgarian parliament. Renamed the IMRO-Bulgarian National Movement in 1998, the organization was gradually transformed into a right-wing populist political party in the 2000s.[17] In 2010, a group of its members split from the party and formed National Ideal for Unity.

In the 2014 European Parliament election, the party was part of the "Bulgaria Without Censorship", which included the parties Bulgaria Without Censorship, IMRO-BNM, People's Agricultural Union, and George's Day Movement. The coalition received 10.66% of the votes and won two seats in the European Parliament. MEPs elected from the coalition include IMRO vice-leader Angel Djambazki and BBT leader Nikolay Barekov.

On 3 August 2014 a coalition agreement between the NFSB and IMRO called Patriotic Front was signed for the upcoming parliamentary elections 2014.[18] And states its purpose to be for: "a revival of the Bulgarian economy, a fight against monopolies, achieving modern education and healthcare and a fair and uncorrupt judiciary." The signing of a coalition agreement between IMRO and NFSB marks the end of the BBT-IMRO coalition.

The members of the alliance are: PROUD,[19] National Ideal for Unity,[20] Middle European Class,[21] Association Patriot,[22] Undivided Bulgaria,[23] National Movement BG Patriot,[24][25] Union of the Patriotic Forces "Defense", National Association of Alternate Soldiery "For the Honor of epaulette",[26] National Movement for the Salvation of the Fatherland[27] and National Democratic Party.[28]

Ahead of the 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election, Volya Movement formed an electoral alliance with the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria.[29] and the IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement.[30]

Ideology[]

Identity[]

The IMRO describes itself as a conservative and patriotic party based on modern nationalism. It defines itself as a "pan-Bulgarian national movement" aiming at "spiritual unity of the Bulgarian nation". It is known as a strongly nationalist and Orthodox Christian party[4] which claims to continue the mission of the historic IMRO and strives for the recognition of the Bulgarian character of the majority population of the Republic of North Macedonia.[31]

Social issues[]

The IMRO is staunchly socially conservative and adamantly opposes same-sex marriage, even going as far as to propose additional amendments to Bulgaria's constitution to preemptively block any gay marriage law from being passed in the future.[32] Party leaders have also expressed the opinion that the 2020–2021 Bulgarian protests were organized by "a few Sorosoidite NGOs and extra-parliamentary political parties hungry for power", claiming that the goal of the protests, in his view, was to "bring about gay marriage" and "create a gender republic", which they entirely disagreed with.[33] Similarly, it also proposed constitutional amendments that would ban people without a certain level of academic qualifications from voting in elections or referendums, as well as amendments that would bring back mandatory conscription for all males.[32]

Minorities[]

The IMRO expresses an antiziganist worldview, proposing a "solution to the problem of unsocialized gypsie groups", which included a destruction of Romani ghettoes, penal labour, restriction of social benefits and limiting births among younger Romani.[34] Likewise, it is critical of Bulgarian Turks and unwelcoming of Islam in Bulgaria, calling on the government to "stop the sounds of terror coming from minarets".[35]

Election results[]

National Assembly[]

Bulgarian Parliament
Election Votes % Seats +/– Rank Government
1997[a] 2,223,714 52.3
137 / 240
 Increase 137 1st Coalition
2001[b] 165,927 3.63
0 / 240
 Decrease 137 5th Extra-parliamentary
2005[c] 189,268 5.19
13 / 240
 Increase 13 7th Opposition
2009 Barred from participation
2013 66,803 1.89
0 / 240
 Steady 0 8th Extra-parliamentary
2014[d] 239,101 7.29
19 / 240
 Increase 19 5th Opposition
2017[e] 318,513 9.07
27 / 240
 Increase 8 3rd Coalition
2021 116,430 3.58
0 / 240
 Decrease 8 7th Extra-parliamentary
2021 TBD TBD
0 / 240
 Increase TBD TBD
  1. ^ Results of the alliance United Democratic Forces.
  2. ^ Results with George's Day Movement.
  3. ^ Results of the alliance Bulgarian People's Union.
  4. ^ Results of the alliance Patriotic Front.
  5. ^ Results of the alliance United Patriots.

European Parliament[]

European Parliament
Election Votes % Seats +/– Rank
2009 57,931 2.25
0 / 18
 Steady 0 9th
2014[a] 238,629 10.66
2 / 17
 Increase 2 4th
2019 143,830 7.14
2 / 17
 Steady 0 4th
  1. ^ Results with Bulgaria Uncensored.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Само 344 000 членове стоят зад партиите в парламента" [Parties in Parliament only have 344,000 members]. 24 Chasa. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Ultra-nationalists, populists form 'Bulgarian Patriots' alliance for July elections". The Sofia Globe. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021. Ultra-nationalist parties VMRO and the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria, along with populists Volya, have agreed to stand together in Bulgaria’s July 11 2021 parliamentary elections under the name “Bulgarian Patriots”, the parties announced on May 20.
  3. ^ "Vacuum at the top threatens to hinder Bulgaria's progress". Financial Times (FT). Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Christo Ivanov; Margarita Ilieva (2005). Cas Mudde (ed.). Bulgaria. Racist Extremism in Central and Eastern Europe. Routledge. p. 4. ISBN 0415355931.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017). "Bulgaria". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  6. ^ Norris, Pippa. Cultural Backlash and the Rise of Populism. Cambridge University Press. p. 240.
  7. ^ "ВМРО предупреди за нова джендър пропаганда. Атака ги обвини, че точно те я прокарват | Политика". offnews.bg.
  8. ^ "Защо има "София прайд"". dw.com (in Bulgarian). Deutsche Welle. 20 June 2016.
  9. ^ Bechev, Dimitar (2009). Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Macedonia. Scarecrow Press. Renamed IMRO-Bulgarian National Movement in 1998, the organization gradually transformed into a right-wing populist political party in the 2000s under the leadership of Krasimir Karakachanov
  10. ^ Dandolov, Philip (2014). "The sinking fortunes of Euroscepticism in Bulgaria". Istituto per l'Europa Centro Orientale e Balcanica. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Ангел Джамбазки". www.facebook.com.
  12. ^ "ВМРО: Цигани сякоха с мачете мъж в Роман – Труд". trud.bg.
  13. ^ "Tolerating the "Intolerable Partner:" Once Shunned, Bulgaria's United Patriots Joins the Governing Coalition - Foreign Policy Research Institute".
  14. ^ "Fascists and football: Bulgaria's deep-rooted and interconnected racism problem | DW | 16.10.2019". DW.COM.
  15. ^ "Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  16. ^ The A to Z of Bulgaria, Raymond Detrez, Scarecrow Press INC, 2010, ISBN 0810872021, p. 227.
  17. ^ Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Macedonia, Dimitar Bechev, Scarecrow Press, 2009, ISBN 0810862956, p. 104.
  18. ^ "НФСБ и ВМРО подписаха коалиция "Патриотичен фронт"". ВМРО.
  19. ^ Слави Бинев закри ГОРД Archived 31 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "Партиите "НФСБ" и "НИЕ" си стиснаха ръцете". potv.eu.
  21. ^ "България – "Средна европейска класа" обяви "безкористна подкрепа" за програмата на НФСБ – Dnevnik.bg". www.dnevnik.bg. 22 August 2013.
  22. ^ "България – Обединението около НФСБ включи и сдружение "Патриот" на бивши депутати от "Атака" (видео) – видео – Dnevnik.bg". www.dnevnik.bg. October 2013.
  23. ^ "СЕГА – НФСБ и "Целокупна България" се обединиха". SEGA Online. 5 September 2013.
  24. ^ "НД "БГ патриот" подкрепя ВМРО". ВМРО.
  25. ^ "Патриотичният фронт получи подкрепата на "БГ Патриот"". ВМРО.
  26. ^ "Патриотични организации подкрепят ВМРО". ВМРО.
  27. ^ "Национална телевизия СКАТ". skat.bg.
  28. ^ НДП. "НДП СЕ ПРИСЪЕДИНИ КЪМ ПАТРИОТИЧНИЯ ФРОНТ". ndp.bg. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  29. ^ "Volya, National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria Form Patriotic Coalition".
  30. ^ "Ultra-nationalists, populists form 'Bulgarian Patriots' alliance for July elections". 20 May 2021.
  31. ^ Stefan Troebst (December 2012). The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization and Bulgarian Revisionism, 1923–1944. Territorial Revisionism and the Allies of Germany in the Second World War. Berghahn Books. p. 170. ISBN 978-0857457394.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b "След изявлението на Борисов: ВМРО искат още "6 неща" в Конституцията". bTV Новините. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Протести срещу властта за 32-ри ден, какво се случва". Vesti.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  34. ^ "Вижте концепцията на ВМРО за промени в политиката за интеграция на циганите – Труд". trud.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Tolerating the "Intolerable Partner:" Once Shunned, Bulgaria's United Patriots Joins the Governing Coalition". Foreign Policy Research Institute. Retrieved 14 August 2020.

External links[]

External links[]

Media related to IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from ""