The German media outlet ‘Aufgewacht’ contacted representatives of the ‘September23′ Movement regarding certain current political processes in Bulgaria and the activities of our organisation. The wording of the questions and the political assessments contained in them are those of the interviewers.
You are a representative of the “September 23” movement. Can you introduce your organization to our readers? What political positions do you represent, and what role do you play in Bulgaria’s political landscape?
The 23 September Movement is a Marxist-Leninist organisation. Its roots date back to the protests against the war in Yugoslavia in 1999 and Bulgaria’s participation in it by making our country’s airspace available to US aircraft. Then a group of young people, seeing the results of the restoration of capitalism in the country in 1989, began to look for an alternative to the disastrous processes for Bulgaria. They found such an alternative in the theoretical and ideological basis of Marxism. A little later the date 23 September was chosen as the name of the organisation, making the association with the antifascist uprising in Bulgaria in 1923. The uprising itself collapsed and was brutally suppressed by the authorities, but it left a lasting imprint on Bulgarian society and dug a gap between the working people and the reactionary government. Later it became the basis for the victory of socialism in our country.
Over the years our organization has played a role in the resistance against US imperialism in Bulgaria, against the placement of US military bases and against the participation of our country in the imperialist structures of the EU and NATO. We have participated in many working class struggles, such as protests, strikes and demonstrations. Last but not least, we defend the principles and ideas of Marxism in an extremely complex situation. In the period of the restoration of capitalism, anti-communism is a state ideology, with the rehabilitation of the fascist period being carried out at the highest level of the state in our country.
In connection with our active political activities we have faced various political repressions. Our members have been arrested and brought to trial. Our comrades have been physically attacked by informal fascist groups, in all likelihood enjoying the covert support of the authorities. All sorts of intrigues have been created against us to undermine our links with the working class and other organisations.
Despite all this, the 23 September Movement remains the largest Marxist-Leninist organisation in Bulgaria.
Can you tell us three central aims of your organization?
The 23 September Movement fights for the abolition of the capitalist system and for the conquest of the power of the working class in order to play a society without exploitation. Alongside this, the organisation opposes the structures of imperialism and Bulgaria’s semi-colonial position after falling into the orbit of imperialism. The most pressing task for our people at the moment is to resist our country’s imminent entry into the eurozone. This would bring further suffering to our working people and the final enslavement of the Bulgarians by the imperialist structures of the EU.
An alliance between your movement and the nationalist party “Revival” (Bulgarian: Възраждане) is attracting attention beyond Bulgaria. How did this come about, and what concrete plans are you pursuing together?
The two organizations signed a joint declaration on some of the most important political issues facing our country:
- The fight against joining the eurozone,
- Resistance to Bulgaria’s further involvement in the war against Russia on the side of Ukraine.
- Protection of historical memory and of partisan and anti-fascist monuments, who are under constant attack from the authorities and the informal elements who are related with them.
- Struggle for the protection of Bulgarian energetics and against the so-called “Green Deal”.
The declaration ends with a call for other organisations and individuals to sign it. We believe that the text of the declaration addresses issues of national importance and we seek to involve as many forces as possible in its message.
In our interactions with other organizations, we seek to be guided by the principles of the great Bulgarian communist and revolutionary Georgi Dimitrov to build united fronts on the most pressing issues of the moment. This quite often involves interacting with individuals and organisations that do not fully share our political views. Agreement on all topics is not an requirement in order to build a united front. The most important issues for our people at the moment are those mentioned in the declaration and we are ready to work for the creation of a common front to defend these principles.
This means coordination and joint action on the most important issues. We do not expect anyone to change their political views and replace them with ours, nor could anyone expect us to do so.
As for the Revival Party, we know many of their activists from various political actions on the street. Together with members of this organisation we have been on duty for many days and nights to protect the Soviet Army Monument in the centre of Sofia. The monument was the object of constant attacks by the authorities and various right-wing and fascist political groups, with the support of official institutions. The Soviet Army Memorial was destroyed by the government in December 2023, but the years of struggle to preserve it created many connections between the people who protected it. During the resistance against the demolition of the monument, the Revival Party organized a protest in front of Sofia Municipality with the slogan “Death to fascism”.
The members of the Revival Party have made a huge contribution to the struggle of the Bulgarian people against the country’s entry into the eurozone and the collection of the necessary signatures for a referendum on this issue. Four members and sympathisers were even arrested for almost a month for participating in a protest against eurozone entry, during which the European Commission building in Sofia was attacked with incendiary materials and red paint.
Together with members of Revival we have been at many different demonstrations against the influence of American imperialism in Bulgaria and the attempts to drag our country more and more into the war against Russia.
By signing this joint declaration, we hope that the positions described in it will gain even more popularity in Bulgarian society and more individuals and organizations will recognize them.
The cooperation of traditionally left-wing activists with right-wing organizations often leads to criticism, even among their own supporters. What has been the feedback from supporters—both of “September 23rd” and of “Revival” supporters?
Signing a joint declaration on the most pressing issues in our countries does not mean giving up the autonomy of organisations or turning our backs on political principles. It means a call to struggle against today’s biggest problems. In the same way, in the 1940s, the Fatherland Front was formed in Bulgaria, uniting various organisations (some not left-wing at all) for common action against fascism, the most pressing issue at this moment in history. Thus today we call for common action against imperialism and its institutions.
Overall, the reactions among most supporters of the two organisations are mainly positive. Only individuals fall into a certain sectarianism, but in general this percentage is insignificant. Many Bulgarians understand that the situation is extremely critical and the time has come for a common struggle against injustice and imperialism.
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