National Union Attack
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| National Union Attack | |
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| Национален съюз Атака | |
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| Leader | Volen Siderov |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Sofia |
| Political ideology | Bulgarian nationalism, Third Position, Euroscepticism |
| International affiliation | None |
| European affiliation | None |
| European Parliament group |
Non-inscrits |
| Colours | White, Green, Red |
| Website | http://www.ataka.bg/ |
| See also | Politics of Bulgaria |
The National Union Attack (Bulgarian: Национален съюз Атака, Natsionalen Sǎyuz Ataka) is an extreme[citation needed] nationalist political party in Bulgaria. At the last legislative elections, 25 June 2005, it won 9.0% of the popular vote and 21 out of 240 seats. In the 2009 European Parliament elections Attack won 12.0% of the vote, giving them two seats in the European Parliament.
National Union Attack was formed by the National Movement for the Salvation of the Fatherland (Natsionalno Dvizhenie za Spasenie na Otechestvoto), the Bulgarian National Patriotic Party (Bǎlgarska Natsionalna-Patriotichna Partiya) and the Union of Patriotic Forces and Militaries of the Reserve Defense (Sǎyuz na Patriotichnite Sili i Voinite ot Zapassa - Zashtita). Led by TV host Volen Siderov, accused by other politicians[citation needed] as being a racist and anti-Semite [1] [2] (despite or perhaps due to his former wife having Jewish heritage), the coalition was created just two months before the elections. Siderov first created a party with that name, but its registration was delayed by the court so it could not participate in the elections by itself.
The coalition's leaders have criticized Bulgaria's ethnic minorities[citation needed] for allegedly being too privileged, they have accused the entire Bulgarian political establishment of being totally corrupted, and are opposed to NATO, the Iraq War and closer ties with the USA. Although the coalition is not particularly against Bulgaria's European Union membership, it has strongly demanded a revision of some of the previously signed documents (like the document for shutting down the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant near the Danube).
The sudden success of Attack has been attributed as the main cause of the poor performance (31%) of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the successor to the old Communist Party[citation needed]. Prominent figures in the Union Attack have included Ognyan Saparev, Rumen Vodenicharov and Stella Bankova.
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[edit] Controversy
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This article contains weasel words, vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (March 2009) |
The party has been subjected to much criticism in the media. This has included allegations that it is a xenophobic, anti-European and fascist movement, although its supporters prefer to define it as patriotic. Some of these allegations are better founded than others: for example the party's platform does not strictly include the fascist characteristics[citation needed]. Regardless, its members tend towards inflammatory comments that often lead to them being sidelined by other parties and criticized both at home and abroad.
A scandal was caused recently by Attack's observer at the European Parliament Dimitar Stoyanov (who is also Volen Siderov's stepson). Stoyanov sent an email to all MEPs that appeared to belittle Roma women. The email said of Hungarian politician Lívia Járóka, "In my country there are tens of thousands of Gypsy girls way more pretty than this honorable one... you may even buy one, around 12-13 years, to be your loving wife."[3].
Apologists later claimed the e-mail was not intended to spark a public relations nightmare. Instead, they claimed its purpose[citation needed] was to highlight the fact that young girls of Roma origin can be literally bought like cattle, despite the fact that this is a heavy crime which clearly violates Human Rights Legislation.[citation needed]
Another problematic incident occurred on the Trakia highway, where a car accident and a subsequent clash resulted in party leader Volen Siderov being charged with hooliganism, perjury and obstruction of justice.[4]
[edit] Ideology
The party's two program documents, the '20 Principles' and the 'Program Scheme' feature a number of nationalistic characteristics. They define Bulgaria as a one-nation state and assert the supremacy of the state and the 'Bulgarian nation' above ethnic and religious diversity, but at the same time want to have an official religion and participation of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in legislative work and in all important government decisions, as well as teaching of the Church's doctrine in primary school[citation needed]. The '20 Principles' envisage formulating a crime of 'national betrayal' and criminal prosecution of the 'national traitors'. Attack has so far called most of the present-day politicians, human rights and minority rights activists 'national traitors'. The '20 Principles' also envisage sanctions for defamation of the 'Bulgarian national sacraments' and for 'slurs' against Bulgaria. It has been debated[citation needed] in Bulgaria whether Attack is a right-wing or left-wing party (in Bulgaria, anti-establishment and anti-Western slogans have been traditionally associated with the left[citation needed]). Attack members themselves have said that the movement is 'neither left, nor right but Bulgarian'.
Ataka could also be viewed as a part of a greater pan-European rise of nationalist[citation needed], right-wing parties, such as the Dutch Party for Freedom of Geert Wilders, Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front or the Austrian Freedom Party. Their policies have in particular included hard lines against immigration and Muslim minorities. In Bulgaria, all other parliamentary parties have stated that they would not look for coalitions with Attack, since they see it as a xenophobic group and a threat to Bulgarian ethnic minorities.
[edit] Recent developments
Opinion survey results from March 2006[citation needed] showed a significant increase in support for Attack. It ranked second after the BSP (Bulgarian Socialist Party) and ahead of the former ruling party NDSV (National Movement for Simeon II) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, a party often associated with the Turkish ethnic minority. On March 3, 2006, party leader Siderov called for a meeting to be held in Sofia, and around 1,000 people came to hear speeches by him and other members of the party. During this rally Siderov declared "Bulgaria is not yet free. Bulgaria is still under Turkish rule". Party speakers protested against the ruling government in Bulgaria for forming an alliance with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and allegedly ignoring ethnic Bulgarian interests. Earlier in 2006, Siderov organized a petition against the decision of the Bulgarian government to set up US military bases in Bulgaria. In October, he finished second in the first round of the 2006 presidential election, but lost in the second round after receiving around a quarter of the vote.
On March 3rd, 2009 Ataka organized a procession, attended by about 10,000, to celebrate the liberation of Bulgaria from "500 years of enslavement by the Ottomans". Mainstream political formations in Bulgaria have avoided contact and debate with the party - the party claim this is because "[they have] been scared from being involved in any debates with Ataka, as they know they would never win". SKAT TV - a broadcaster broadly sympathetic to the party's view - have been subject to deletion from some cable TV providers in Bulgaria. Ataka claim this is a "pre-election trick by the government, in order to silence one of its main competitors in the election".
In the European Parliament elections of June 7th, 2009, the party's share was 12%. This placed them in fourth place, behind the ascending Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, the governing Coalition for Bulgaria and the pro-minority Movement for Rights and Freedoms. This gives them two European Parliament seats out of Bulgaria's 17[[5]].
[edit] External links
- (English) Official site in English
- (Bulgarian) Official site
- (Bulgarian) The party's daily newspaper, Attack
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