Leader Stanimir Ilchev Headquarters Sofia Political position Centre | Founded April 2001 Ideology Liberalism
Populism | |
Founder Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha | ||
The National Movement for Stability and Progress (Bulgarian: Национално движение за стабилност и възход (НДСВ) or Nacionalno dviženie za stabilnost i văzhod, NDSV), until 3 June 2007 known as the National Movement Simeon II (the acronym in Bulgarian is the same - НДСВ), is a liberal and populist political party in Bulgaria, created as a personal vehicle of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Simeon II), the deposed Tsar and former Prime Minister of Bulgaria.
History
It was founded in April 2001, only 11 weeks ahead of a parliamentary election, after former Tsar Simeon II had announced his intention to become involved in the political life of Bulgaria. He promised to attract foreign investors, reduce taxes and uproot corruption within the first 800 days of his premiership. The movement met with immediate enthusiasm and won 42.7% of the popular vote and 120 out of 240 seats in the 2001 elections. One seat short of an absolute majority, it formed a large coalition with the conservative Union of Democratic Forces, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and the ethnic minority party Movement for Rights and Freedoms with Simeon Sakskoburggotski (his official name in Bulgarian since the end of monarchy) becoming Prime Minister. NDSV's popularity decreased markedly when Simeon failed to fulfill his promises within the specified time. However, it was during Simeon's term that Bulgaria entered NATO and prepared the economic and political stability that was prerequisite for the country becoming a member of the European Union in 2007. The NDSV party became a full member of the Liberal International at its Sofia Congress in May 2005.
At the 2005 parliamentary election, NDSV's share of votes dropped to 19.9% and its number of seats in parliament dropped to 53. It did, however, remain in office as the junior partner in a coalition led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party. NDSV member Meglena Kuneva served as Bulgarian EU Commissioner charged with consumer protection in the First Barroso Commission from Bulgaria's entry to the EU in 2007 until 2010. The party changed its name in June 2007, removing the name of the founder and leader and replacing it with "Stability and Progress", but retaining its Bulgarian acronym NDSV. At the European parliamentary election of June 2009 the party gained 7.96 per cent of the votes and took two out of the seventeen seats. However, a month later the party got just 3.01% of votes in the July 2009 parliamentary elections, falling short of the 4% election threshold for representation. The next day, on 6 July, Simeon resigned as NDSV leader. In July 2012 Meglena Kuneva left the party to establish the Bulgaria for Citizens Movement. In the 2013 parliamentary election, the NDSV did not field any candidates. In the 2014 election, it won just 0.24% of the votes.