Is it Time for Revival?: Determining Whether Temporal or Programmatic Factors Facilitated Revival’s Success

• In Event: Democracy Under Strain: Civil Society and Public Attitudes in Hungary and the Balkans

Abstract

Populist radical right parties continue to see gains across the member states of the European Union. In Bulgaria, Revival has managed to gain significant vote share, becoming the third largest party in the National Assembly. In Bulgaria, seven elections have taken place since April of 2021 and Revival has continuously seen success. This has been concurrent with a significant decrease in electoral participation, coalition collapse, and public protests against political corruption. These temporal factors may explain why Revival has been able to secure vote share. Alternatively, Revival’s program might be the key to the party’s success. A hard Eurosceptic, Russian sympathetic, and nationalist message may resonate with some voters more than that of establishment parties despite both campaigning on anti-corruption. What explains Revival’s success - programmatic or temporal factors?

Author

• Ryan N Coleman, Florida International U