Comparative analysis of the intra-party democracy of the largest right-centrist and conservative parties in Bulgaria and Germany

Abstract

One of the main indicators defining the durability of political parties is their internal party life. For contemporary political dynamics, the state of party structures and organizations is a critical element that would outline the resilience of any party (Ignazi, 2018). This study aims to compare the internal democracy of the two largest and most influential right-centrist parties, professing conservative values in Bulgaria and Germany – Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria and the Christian Democratic Union, which are active members of the European Peopleʼs Party in the European Parliament and representing its leadership. This will contribute to a deeper understanding first of the democratic processes within the two parties and second, of the functioning of political parties in the context of European political dynamics, especially the large parties – members and representatives of the leadership of the EPP, as defining the direction of the European Union.