Leader Boyko Borisov Headquarters Sofia | Chairman Boyko Borisov Membership (2016) 86,000 (2nd) | |
Founded December 3, 2006 (2006-12-03) Ideology Liberal conservatism
Populism
Pro-Europeanism | ||
GERB (Bulgarian: ГЕРБ, Граждани за европейско развитие на България, "Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria") is a Bulgarian centre-right political party established on March 13, 2006. The initials of the party герб/gerb also translate as "coat of arms" in Bulgarian.
History
GERB is headed by Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov, former mayor of Sofia and former member of the National Movement Simeon II. The establishment of the party followed the creation of a non-profit organization with the acronym (in Bulgarian) GERB — Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, earlier the same year. The name of the party is not stated to be an acronym, but is spelled in all caps nonetheless.
In early January 2007, and early February 2007, the party came second in public polls on party support with around 14%, trailing the Bulgarian Socialist Party which had around 25%. Its stated priorities are fighting crime and corruption, preserving family as the cornerstone of society and achieving energy independence.
GERB won the 2009 European Parliament election in Bulgaria with 24.36% of the vote. The party elected five MEPs and joined the European People's Party-European Democrats Group in the European Parliament (in the EPP section). On June 6, 2007 GERB applied formally to join as a member-party the European People's Party and joined EPP on February 7, 2008.
GERB won the 2009 parliamentary elections, held a month after the European ballot, winning 39.7% of the popular vote and 117 seats (out of 240). After the elections, a new government was formed, led by Borisov, exclusively with GERB members. On 20 February 2013, the government resigned after nationwide protests demanding it to step down.
GERB's candidates for the 2011 presidential election, Rosen Plevneliev and Margarita Popova (presidential nominee and running mate, respectively), won the elections on the second ballot with 52.6% of the popular vote.
GERB won the 2013 parliamentary elections with 97 seats, receiving 30.5% of the popular vote. This made GERB the first governing party to be re-elected in the history of the post-communist Bulgaria. However, with lack of support from the other parties and designated to form a new government, Borisov refused the offer and so GERB went in the opposition.