A “Foreign Agents” Law Is the Next Goal for Bulgaria’s Revival Party

In August, Bulgaria’s parliament amended legislation to prohibit the promotion in schools of views related to nontraditional sexual orientation and determination of gender identity. This discriminatory measure adds to Bulgaria’s already bad record in this regard as it does not support same-sex marriages and is ranked among the worst countries in the EU for LGBTQ+ rights.

The amendment was put forward by the far-right, pro-Russia party Revival (Vazrazhdane), and backed by all the other parties representing the political status quo: the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), There is Such a People (ITN), the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), and the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB). This again raises concerns that their true preference is for Russia, even in the case of the nominally pro-West DPS and GERB. The status quo parties are responsible for the country’s unwillingness and inability since 1989 to combat Russian influence and corruption, and to consolidate its democracy. Only the one genuinely pro-West We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) alliance opposed the anti-LGBTQ+ amendment.

Once small and unknown, the ten-year-old Revival has continuously increased its electoral score to become the fourth-largest party in Bulgaria.

Once small and unknown, the ten-year-old Revival has continuously increased its electoral score to become the fourth-largest party in Bulgaria in the context of the ongoing political crisis in which no stable government has been formed since 2020. It uses populist rhetoric and blames different minority groups, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the West for the country’s problems. It looks to Moscow for domestic and foreign policy ideas to endorse, as the anti-LGBTQ+ amendment shows.

Shortly after the law was changed, Revival initiated a smear campaign against teachers who had signed a declaration expressing their disapproval. It published the names of some of them on social media and claimed that some were allegedly financed by the US CSO America for Bulgaria and the Bulgarian one Teach for Bulgaria. This is part of Revival trying to present the West and CSOs as enemies to be combated.

Revival’s Plan for Civil Society 

The anti- LGBTQ+ amendment was an important political win for Revival. And, with Bulgaria holding its seventh elections in three years on October 27, the party is already looking at its next steps. It plans to introduce in parliament a bill, similar to the one in Russia, that would make it possible to label any CSO or individual a foreign agent. This would severely limit the functioning of civil society in Bulgaria. Funding from the EU and the United States is essential for the country’s civil society, as neither the state nor private actors are able or willing to sufficiently support projects of vital importance in, say, human rights or education. 

Revival already presented а draft of this law in 2022 targeted specifically at journalists, but it was unable to push it further because it did not have the support of GERB, the largest party in the parliament. Now, however, the vote on the anti-LGBTQ+ amendment has demonstrated that GERB is willing to support Russian-style legislation proposed by Revival. This could indicate the former’s openness to working with the latter in a coalition government after the elections. Back in 2017, GERB already did so with the now defunct far-right United Patriots bloc when it could not garner enough support in the elections to govern on its own. 

The vote on the anti-LGBTQ+ amendment has demonstrated that GERB is willing to support Russian-style legislation proposed by Revival.

Bulgaria’s political landscape has been marred by corruption scandals, and splits in the BSP and the DPS ahead of the elections might cause them to lose voters. This is an opportunity for Revival, which is consolidated and emboldened by its recent political win with the anti-LGBTQ+ amendment. It is hoping to continue its upward trajectory in October and to be in a better position to push for the implementation of its pro-Russia agenda. 

Bulgarians at home and abroad, as well as Sofia’s international partners in Brussels and Washington, should be concerned at this prospect that jeopardizes the country’s standing as a trusted EU and NATO member state in the Black Sea region.