Green Movement (Bulgaria)

Green Movement (Зелено движение), until 2019 The Greens (Зелените), is a green-liberal political party in Bulgaria founded in 2008.

History
Green Movement emerged from a number of non-governmental organizations who felt, after years of work in the area of environment protection, human rights, etc. that their work needed serious political backing if it was to have a lasting effect. A major motivation to found a political party was criticism of various shortcomings in the political system in Bulgaria, including widespread corruption, lack of democratic control, and the general malfunction of state institutions at all levels. The party had its inaugural meeting in May 2008 in Sofia (capital of Bulgaria). During the following three months, more than 6000 members were registered. According to its statutes, the party has two chairpersons with equal rights.

In 2019, shortly before the European elections, the party was forced to change its name from "The Greens" to "Green Movement" because of a decision by Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassation which stated that another party had a right to the name. The leadership of Green Movement commented for the media: "Unfortunately, the pressure on us comes literally on the eve of the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, and at a time when the Greens, as part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition, we have all chances to become a real political factor opposing the corrupt and populist status quo".

Chairpersons
As first chairpersons were elected Denica Petrova, Andrey Kovachev and Petko Kovachev (2008). A national assembly of the party in May 2010 consisting of about 50 delegates elected a new board of chairpersons with Georg Tuparev, Daniela Bozhinova and Andrey Kovachev.

Program
Green Movement see themselves as part of the network of green parties in Europe. The political program of the Greens reflects a large extent the program of the European Green Party but also includes topics specific for Bulgaria such as changes in the political system in order to overcome inherent problems of governance and democratic control.

Save Pirin Protests
In 2018, the Greens supported the "Save Pirin" mass protests in Bulgaria against the expansion of the ski area in the Pirin National Park.