Between 2013 and 2023, parties that either passed the 4% barrier for parliament or spent at least BGN 1 million in a given campaign spent a total of BGN 68.45 million. This is according to an analysis by Martin Draganov, an intern at the Institute for Market Economy, BNR reported.
The data it uses comes from the Audit Office, where parties are required to report their expenses during election campaigns. Almost half of the funds spent - in the amount of BGN 33.4 million - were spent by the "status quo parties" - GERB, DPS and BSP.
Between 2013 and 2021, they represented an average of 55.1% of the parliament, and after 2021 – average 56.7%. The electoral wave for "change" in the last three years, their share in the parliamentary seats won has not decreased.
At the same time, they can afford significantly lower campaign costs in the elections after April 2021 compared to what they spent between 2013 and 2019.
In the period only "United Patriots" achieve enviable results with the few invested funds.
"High campaign spending does not automatically guarantee electoral success, but rather highlights the need for strategic innovation and better resource management by parties seeking to achieve an electoral advantage over long-standing incumbents. The exception is the patriotic parties, which exchange a solid electorate with each other during the eight examined election cycles and election campaigns", comments Martin Draganov.
The data it uses comes from the Audit Office, where parties are required to report their expenses during election campaigns. Almost half of the funds spent - in the amount of BGN 33.4 million - were spent by the "status quo parties" - GERB, DPS and BSP.
Between 2013 and 2021, they represented an average of 55.1% of the parliament, and after 2021 – average 56.7%. The electoral wave for "change" in the last three years, their share in the parliamentary seats won has not decreased.
At the same time, they can afford significantly lower campaign costs in the elections after April 2021 compared to what they spent between 2013 and 2019.
In the period only "United Patriots" achieve enviable results with the few invested funds.
"High campaign spending does not automatically guarantee electoral success, but rather highlights the need for strategic innovation and better resource management by parties seeking to achieve an electoral advantage over long-standing incumbents. The exception is the patriotic parties, which exchange a solid electorate with each other during the eight examined election cycles and election campaigns", comments Martin Draganov.