1894 Bulgarian parliamentary election

1894 Bulgarian parliamentary election
Bulgaria
11 September 1894
1896 →

All 155 seats in the National Assembly
78 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Seats
Unionists Ivan Geshov 40
Tsankovist Liberals Dragan Tsankov 40
Radoslavist Liberals Vasil Radoslavov 37
Conservatives Konstantin Stoilov 26
Karavelist Liberals Petko Karavelov 8
Socialists Yanko Sakazov 4
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Konstantin Stoilov
Stoilov II (Cons.+NP+LP(R))
Konstantin Stoilov
Stoilov III (Cons.+NP)

Parliamentary elections were held in Bulgaria on 11 September 1894 to elect members of the VIII Ordinary National Assembly. The result was a victory for the government-aligned anti-Stambolovist parties.

Background

Stefan Stambolov and his People's Liberal Party had been in power since 1887 until Prince Ferdinand surprisingly accepted one of his numerous resignations in May 1894 and appointed a government of the United Legal Opposition, led by Konstantin Stoilov, in the hopes that a shift away from the pro-Austrian People's Liberals would achieve him recognition from Russia as the Prince of Bulgaria. Despite limited democratization reforms and amnesty, popular opposition leader Petko Karavelov remained imprisoned until after the election and Stambolovist candidates were not allowed to run.[1][2]

Results

PartySeats
Unionists40
Tsankovist Liberals40
Radoslavist Liberals37
Conservatives26
Karavelist Liberals8
Socialists4
Total155
Source: Liberty[3] Socialist[4][a]

Aftermath

The Radoslavist Liberals left the government in December 1894. Stoilov's term saw the resolution of the country's 10-year long international isolation and Ferdinand was recognized as Prince of Bulgaria. Stoilov's supporters, the Unionists and Conservatives, consolidated into the NP and this period saw the formation or reinvigoration of the country's other major pre-WW1 political parties - the DP, LP and PLP, in addition to Stambolov's NLP, which he led until his assassination in July 1895.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ Slightly different seat count with 90 "Russophiles" (Unionists, Tsankovists and Karavelists), 38 Radoslavists, 25 Conservatives and 2 Socialists

References

  1. ^ Kumanov, Milen. Political organizations and movements in Bulgaria and their leaders 1879-1949, Sofia 1991.
  2. ^ a b Tsurakov, Angel. Encyclopedia of Governments, National Assemblies, and Assassinations in Bulgaria. Sofia, Trud Publishing House, 2008. ISBN 954-528-790-X, p. 52-66.
  3. ^ Liberty newspaper, issue 1478, 13 Sept 1894
  4. ^ Socialist newspaper, issue 1, 4 Oct 1894