Volya Movement facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Volya Movement Движение Воля
Leader	Veselin Mareshki
Founded	15 July 2007; 18 years ago (2007-07-15) (Liberal Alliance) 4 November 2012 (2012-11-04) (Today) 28 November 2016 (2016-11-28) (Volya)
Split from	Order, Law and Justice
Preceded by	National Movement for Freedom and Democracy
Headquarters	Varna, Bulgaria
Ideology	Bulgarian nationalism Right-wing populism Anti-corruption Anti-establishment Euroscepticism
Political position	Right-wing
National affiliation	Bulgarian Patriots
European affiliation	Identity and Democracy Party (until 2022)
Colours	Teal and white      Light blue (former)
National Assembly	0 / 240
European Parliament	0 / 17
Political parties

The Volya Movement (which means "Will Movement" in Bulgarian) was a political party in Bulgaria. It was known for its focus on the common people and its right-wing ideas. Before 2016, it had different names like Today and Liberal Alliance. A Bulgarian businessman named Veselin Mareshki started the party. Its main goals were to fight against corruption and to challenge the traditional political leaders.

History of the Volya Movement

The Volya Movement was first started by Veselin Mareshki on July 15, 2007. Back then, it was called the Liberal Alliance. After a short time as the "Dnes" party, its name was changed to Volya on November 28, 2016.

Volya's First Election Success

In the 2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election, the Volya party won 12 seats in the National Assembly. This is like winning spots in the country's main law-making body. After talking with other parties, Volya agreed to support a government led by the GERB party and the United Patriots. This meant they would help the government stay in power without officially joining it.

Joining European Political Groups

In 2018, Volya joined a group called the Movement for a Europe of Nations and Freedom. This group is now known as the Identity and Democracy Party. It's a European political party that brings together nationalist parties from different countries across Europe. Some other parties in this group include the National Rally from France and the League from Italy.

Volya in European Parliament Elections

Volya also took part in the 2019 European Parliament election in Bulgaria. For this election, they formed a team called the Volya-The Bulgarian Patriots coalition. This team included other parties like the Agrarian Union "Aleksandar Stamboliyski" and the People's Party for Freedom and Dignity. Veselin Mareshki was at the top of their list of candidates. The coalition hoped to win two seats in the European Parliament, but they did not win any. They finished in 6th place in the election.

Later Elections and Alliances

Before the second Bulgarian parliamentary election in 2021, Volya formed another alliance. This time, they teamed up with the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria and the IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement.

Volya's Political Ideas

The Volya party had several key ideas. They supported policies that focused on the common people and aimed for big changes.

Key Policies and National Interests

• Patriotism: They strongly believed in loving and supporting Bulgaria.
• Immigration Control: They wanted strict rules about who could enter Bulgaria.
• Relations with Russia: They aimed for friendlier ties with Moscow.
• Fighting Corruption: They wanted to get rid of corruption in politics. They often said they wanted to "sweep away the garbage" of the old political system.

Views on NATO and Europe

Volya believed that Bulgaria should leave NATO. They thought being part of NATO cost Bulgaria too much money and did not make the country safer. Even though Veselin Mareshki talked about a "strong united Europe," the party was generally seen as being "Eurosceptic." This means they were cautious or had doubts about the European Union.

Supporting Businesses and Families

The Volya party also wanted to help businesses in Bulgaria grow. Mareshki said they focused on "small and medium businesses." He wanted less paperwork, more chances for businesses to develop, more investments, and more jobs. The party believed the government should strongly support businesses, not limit them. Volya also recognized that Bulgaria's birth rate was going down. However, they did not support increasing immigration. Instead, they wanted government programs to encourage young families to have more children.

Election Results for Volya

Here are some of the election results for the Volya Movement in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian National Assembly Elections

European Parliament Elections

See also

In Spanish: Volya para niños