The Bulgarian Left ( bg, Българската левица, ''Bǎlgarskata levitsa'', BL) is a

democratic socialist Democratic socialism is a left-wing political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-management within a ...

political party in Bulgaria. It was created in February 2009 predominantly by members of the

Bulgarian Socialist Party The Bulgarian Socialist Party ( bg, Българска социалистическа партия, translit=Balgarska sotsialisticheska partiya, BSP), also known as The Centenarian ( bg, Столетницата, links=no, translit=Stoletnitsat ...

(BSP), with its constituent congress taking place on 4 April 2009. Its leaders are Hristofor Dochev, Ivan Genov, and Margarita Mileva. A full member of the

Party of the European Left The Party of the European Left (PEL), commonly abbreviated European Left, is a European political party that operates as an association of democratic socialist and communist political parties in the European Union and other European countries. ...

(PEL) since September 2010, it is one of the few parties in the country to hold

progressive Progressive may refer to: Politics * Progressivism, a political philosophy in support of social reform ** Progressivism in the United States, the political philosophy in the American context * Progressive realism, an American foreign policy par ...

views in regards to

LGBT rights in Bulgaria LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) in Bulgaria face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex relationships are legal in Bulgaria, but same-sex couples and households headed by same-s ...

. Alongside the BSP, the

Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria ( bg, Демократи за силна България, ДСБ, Demokrati za Silna Balgariya, DSB) is a political party in Bulgaria established by former Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov (1997–2001). His ...

, and the

Green Movement Green politics, or ecopolitics, is a political ideology that aims to foster an ecologically sustainable society often, but not always, rooted in environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice and grassroots democracy. Wall 2010. p. 12-13. It be ...

, the BL was one of the few parties to have supported the parade organizers' right to hold the

pride parade A pride parade (also known as pride march, pride event, or pride festival) is an outdoor event celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture, queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, LGBT rights by country o ...

, and the only party, alongside the Greens, to have send statements of support to the parade. In the

2013 Bulgarian parliamentary election Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 12 May 2013, two months ahead of schedule. Protests had forced the resignation of the GERB government in February, leading to the election being moved up. The elections resulted in a minority parl ...

, the BL won 5,924 votes (0.17%) and failed to win any seats. In the

2014 Bulgarian parliamentary election Fourteen or 14 may refer to: * 14 (number), the natural number following 13 and preceding 15 * one of the years 14 BC, AD 14, 1914, 2014 Music * 14th (band), a British electronic music duo * ''14'' (David Garrett album), 2013 *''14'', an unrele ...

, the party participated in a coalition with the

Green Party of Bulgaria The Green Party of Bulgaria ( bg, Зелена партия, Zelena partiya) is an environmentalist political party in Bulgaria. It was founded in Sofia in 1989 by Aleksandar Karakachanov, who later went on to become the chairperson of the part ...

; together, they won 7,010 votes (0.21%). This coalition continued during

2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 26 March 2017. They had originally been scheduled for 2018 at the end of the four-year term of the National Assembly. However, following the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and the fail ...

, in which they won 2,876 votes (0.08%).

Notes

References

External links

Official website
2009 establishments in Bulgaria Democratic socialist parties in Europe Party of the European Left member parties Political parties established in 2009 Socialist parties in Bulgaria {{Europe-socialist-party-stub