National Movement for Stability and Progress

The National Movement for Stability and Progress (Bulgarian: Национално движение за стабилност и възход (НДСВ) or Natsionalno dvizhenie za stabilnost i vazhod, NDSV), until 3 June 2007 known as the National Movement Simeon II (the acronym in Bulgarian is the same - НДСВ), is a liberal and populist political party in Bulgaria, created as a personal vehicle of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Simeon II), the deposed Tsar of Bulgaria and former Prime Minister.

History

It was founded in April 2001, only 11 weeks ahead of a parliamentary election, after former Tsar Simeon II had announced his intention to become involved in the political life of Bulgaria. He promised to attract foreign investors, reduce taxes and uproot corruption within the first 800 days of his premiership. The movement met with immediate enthusiasm and won 42.7% of the popular vote and 120 out of 240 seats in the 2001 elections. One seat short of an absolute majority, it formed a large coalition with the conservative Union of Democratic Forces, the Bulgarian Socialists, and the ethnic minority party Movement for Rights and Freedoms with Simeon Sakskoburggotski (his official name in Bulgarian since the end of monarchy) becoming Prime Minister. NDSV's popularity descreased markedly when Simeon failed to hold his promises whithin the specified time. However, it was during Simeon's term that Bulgaria entered NATO and prepared the economic and political stability that was prerequisite for the country becoming a member of the European Union in 2007. NDSV party became a full member of the Liberal International at its Sofia Congress in May 2005.