Morality, Unity, Honour
Morality, Unity, Honour Морал, Единство, Чест | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | MECh |
| Leader | Radostin Vasilev |
| Founder | Radostin Vasilev |
| Founded | 9 February 2024 |
| Split from | We Continue the Change |
| Headquarters | 47 General Parensov St., Sofia |
| Ideology | Populism Social conservatism Euroscepticism Anti-establishment |
| Political position | Fiscal: Centre Cultural/Ethical: Right-wing to far-right |
| Colors | Red Navy blue |
| Slogan | “Bulgaria first!” (Bulgarian: България първо!) |
| National Assembly | 0 / 240 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 17 |
| Website | |
| ppmech | |
Morale, Unity, Honour (Bulgarian: Морал, Единство, Чест), also known simply as MECh (Bulgarian: МЕЧ, lit. 'Sword') is a Bulgarian political party formed in February 2024 by former Minister of Youth and Sports and then-MP Radostin Vasilev. The party stands on a hard anti-establishment and anti-corruption platform, promising to fight organised crime and restore the rule of law in the country. It also advocates for traditional family values, while opposing the LGBT community, a eurosceptic approach to Bulgaria's membership in the European Union, and a neutral stance towards the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
History
[edit]Background and foundation
[edit]Morale, Unity, Honour was officially registered as a political party on 9 February 2024, after its founder, Radostin Vasilev, launched its platform in the fall of 2023.[1][2] Vasilev, formerly a member of the ITN and We Continue the Change parties, had left the latter in May 2023 following a wiretapping scandal involving him. On 21 May the party held a national video conference with about 50 people participating where it discussed the opportunity of forming a government in a coalition with GERB—SDS. As the conference was running late at night, Vasilev proceeded to record it and, to his words, go to bed. The following day he leaked the recording to the press,[3] claiming he has lost confidence in party leaders Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev, who, unaware of being recorded, can be heard making controversial statements on multiple occasions in the tape.[4] While the scandal stalled government talks, they concluded in the formation of the Denkov Government.[5][6] As a result, Vasilev declared his independence from the PP-DB group in the National Assembly and served as MP until the dissolution of the 49th National Assembly, where he would actively criticize the government and use his position to increase the popularity of his newly formed party.[7][8]
Political positions
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (September 2024) |
Election results
[edit]National Assembly
[edit]| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | Radostin Vasilev | 63,992 | 2.98 (#8) | 0 / 240
|
New | Extra-parliamentary |
European Parliament
[edit]| Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Radostin Vasilev | 51,076 | 2.54 (#8) | 0 / 17
|
New | – |
References
[edit]- ^ "Радостин Василев: На 22 октомври ще учредим МЕЧ - първата пробългарска партия". bnr.bg.
- ^ "Радостин Василев регистрира партия МЕЧ в съда". News.bg. 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Radostin Vasilev shows remarks from alleged political haggling over the formation of a cabinet". bnr.bg.
- ^ ""Службите са наши": Радостин Василев пусна запис от съвет на "Продължаваме промяната"". bTV Новините.
- ^ staff, The Sofia Globe (5 June 2023). "Bulgarian Parliament to hold special sitting to vote on proposed government".
- ^ staff, The Sofia Globe (7 June 2023). "Bulgaria's Denkov coalition government: meet the ministers".
- ^ "Радостин Василев напуска ПП-ДБ със скандал – DW – 26.05.2023". dw.com.
- ^ "Радостин Василев: Днес ще бъде избрано най-позорното и жалко правителство след Беровото - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини".