1908 Bulgarian parliamentary election

1908 Bulgarian parliamentary election

25 May 1908

All 203 seats in the National Assembly
102 seats needed for a majority
Turnout50.19%
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
Democratic Aleksandar Malinov 61.85 166 +159
BZNS Dimitar Dragiev 11.07 23 +23
LP (Radoslavists) Vasil Radoslavov 4.90 5 −4
People's Party Ivan Geshov 8.39 4 −21
Progressive Liberal Stoyan Danev 5.66 2 −4
People's Liberal Nikola Genadiev 3.95 1 −131
Ind. Democrats 0.17 1 +1
Independents 0.91 1 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Aleksandar Malinov
Malinov I (Democratic)
Aleksandar Malinov
Malinov I (Democratic)

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 25 May 1908[1] to elect members of the XIV Ordinary National Assembly. The result was a victory for the ruling Democratic Party, which won 166 of the 203 seats. Voter turnout was 50%.[2]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Party586,35261.85166+159
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union104,97911.0723+23
Liberal Party46,4314.905–4
People's Party79,5308.394–21
Progressive Liberal Party53,6315.662–4
People's Liberal Party37,4403.951–131
Independent Democrats1,6380.171+1
Radical Democratic Party13,7871.4500
Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party8,1010.8500
Young Liberals Party6,5450.690–3
Independent Liberals750.010–1
Liberal Agrarians8950.090New
Independents8,6270.9110
Total948,031100.00203+14
Total votes467,607
Registered voters/turnout931,63350.19
Source: National Statistical Institute[3]

By-elections

One MP died and several MPs were elected in more than one constituency and were required to choose which one to represent when the Assembly convened, resulting in thirty two seats being vacated. Afterwards four results were annulled, one MP resigned and another one died. By-elections were held on 12 April 1909 and 11 July 1910.[3]

PartySeats
Democratic Party166
Bulgarian Agrarian National Union19
People's Party7
Liberal Party5
Progressive Liberal Party3
People's Liberal Party1
Independent Democrats1
Vacant1
Total203

Aftermath

The ruling Democratic Party won a majority and its leader Malinov continued his term as PM. The government abolished many of the authoritarian measures of the previous government and oversaw electoral reform and the Bulgarian Declaration of Independence. As a result it prepared constitutional amendments, changing the monarch's title from Prince to Tsar and increasing his powers at the expense of the National Assembly.[4] During negotiations with Russia and Serbia regarding the formation of a Balkan alliance in a future war with the Ottoman Empire, Tsar Ferdinand dismissed the government and appointed a more Russophile one led by Ivan Geshov in 1911 and scheduled elections for a Grand National Assembly to approve the prepared amendments.[5]

References

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p368 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Nohlen & Stöver, p378
  3. ^ a b Statistique des elections des deputes pour la XIV-eme Assemblee nationale ordinaire. NSI. 1910. pp. 13, 14, 25.
  4. ^ Kumanov, Milen. Political organizations and movements in Bulgaria and their leaders 1879-1949, Sofia 1991.
  5. ^ Tsurakov, Angel. Encyclopedia of Governments, National Assemblies, and Assassinations in Bulgaria. Sofia, Trud Publishing House, 2008. ISBN 954-528-790-X, p. 100-103.