IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement
The IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement or IMRO–BNM () is a national conservative political party in Bulgaria led by Krasimir Karakachanov. It claims to be the successor to the historic Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization. History. The abbreviation "IMRO" refers to the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, a historic Bulgarian-led revolutionary political organization in the Macedonia and Thrace regions of the Ottoman Empire, founded in the late 19th century. At the time of its establishment in 1991, the name of the organization was IMRO-Union of Macedonian Associations. At the Fourth Congress in 1997, IMRO-UMA dropped the  addition UMA. Initially, it was not involved in Bulgarian politics, but after 1994 it became politically active and entered the Bulgarian parliament. Renamed the IMRO-Bulgarian National Movement in 1998, the organization was gradually transformed into a right-wing populist political party in the 2000s. In 2010, a group of its members split from the party and formed National Ideal for Unity. In the 2014 European Parliament election, the party was part of the "Bulgaria Without Censorship", which included the parties Bulgaria Without Censorship, IMRO-BNM, People's Agricultural Union, and George's Day Movement. The coalition received 10.66% of  the votes and won two seats in the European Parliament. MEPs elected from the coalition include IMRO vice-leader Angel Djambazki and BBT leader Nikolay Barekov. On 3 August 2014 a coalition agreement between the NFSB and IMRO called Patriotic Front was signed for the upcoming parliamentary elections 2014. And states its purpose to be for: "a revival of the Bulgarian economy, a fight against monopolies, achieving modern education and healthcare and a fair and uncorrupt judiciary." The signing of a coalition agreement between IMRO and NFSB marks the end of the BBT-IMRO coalition. The members of the alliance  are: PROUD, National Ideal for Unity, Middle European Class, Association Patriot, Undivided Bulgaria, National Movement BG Patriot, Union of the Patriotic Forces "Defense", National Association of Alternate Soldiery "For the Honor of epaulette", National Movement for the Salvation of the Fatherland and National Democratic Party. Ahead of the 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election, Volya Movement formed an electoral alliance with the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria and the IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement. Ideology. Identity. The IMRO describes itself as a conservative and patriotic party based on modern nationalism. It defines itself as a "pan-Bulgarian national movement" aiming at  spiritual unity of the Bulgarian nation. It is known as a strongly nationalist and Orthodox Christian party which claims to continue the mission of the historic IMRO and strives for the recognition of the Bulgarian character of the majority population of the Republic of North Macedonia. Social issues. The IMRO is staunchly socially conservative and adamantly opposes same-sex marriage, even going as far as to propose additional amendments to Bulgaria's constitution to preemptively block any gay marriage law from being passed in the future. During the 2020–2021 Bulgarian protests, the IMRO attempted to put the topic of gender  (through the anti-LGBT trope of gender ideology) at the forefront over the COVID-19 pandemic in Bulgaria and the protests themselves in an attempt to increase its political legitimacy. Reporter Milana Nikolova wrote that "gender" "took a new meaning in the Bulgarian vernacular and overnight became a slur aimed at non-binary, gender-nonconforming, or at times even any person perceived to be LGBT+." Party leaders have also expressed the opinion that the protests were organized by "a few "Sorosoidite" NGOs and extra-parliamentary political parties hungry for power", claiming that the goal of the protests, in his view, was  to "bring about gay marriage" and "create a gender republic", which they entirely disagreed with. Similarly, it also proposed constitutional amendments that would ban people without a certain level of academic qualifications from voting in elections or referendums, as well as amendments that would bring back mandatory conscription for all males. Minorities. The IMRO expresses an antiziganist worldview, proposing a "solution to the problem of unsocialized gypsie groups", which included a destruction of Romani ghettoes, penal labour, restriction of social benefits and limiting births among younger Romani. Likewise, it is critical of Bulgarian Turks and unwelcoming of Islam in Bulgaria , calling on the government to "stop the sounds of terror coming from minarets".