History of Bulgaria since 1989
Encyclopedia
The reforms towards liberalization, both social, political and economic in the Eastern Block started with Gorbachev's reform program in the Soviet Union which was felt in Bulgaria
in the late 1980s. In fact the release of tightening started with the end of the Stalinist era and continued slowly to the point that many previously forbidden literature was translated, the same was relevant for Hollywood movies, etc., stores appeared with western products that had elements of advertisement (advertisement of products was generally unknown and not used in the Eastern Bloc
since everything was accessible and the same to all), these new features of the late communist years acknowledged the slowly braking of the Iron Curtain
for the Comcon people. This, together with the policies of Gorbachov, led to more freedom and expectations for democracy among people.
In November 1989 demonstrations on ecological issues staged in Sofia, and these soon broadened into a general campaign for political reform. The Communists generally didn't brake the demonstrations which was a sign of a possible change that would come. In fact communist politicians reacted by eventually voting for the removal Todor Zhivkov
as a communist party and country head and replacing him with Petar Mladenov
, but this gained them only a short respite in power. In February 1990 the Communist Party, forced by street protests gave up its claim on power and in June 1990 the first free elections since 1931 were held, won by the Bulgarian Socialist Party
(the new name of the Communist Party). In July 1991 a new Constitution was adopted, which regulates a representative elected President and a Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Like the other post-Communist regimes in eastern Europe, Bulgaria found the transition to capitalism rather painful and not easy as expected. The anti-Communist Union of Democratic Forces
(in Bulgarian: СДС, SDS) took office between 1992 and 1994 to carry through the privatization of agricultural land, properties and industry issuing shares in government enterprises to all citizens, but these were accompanied by massive unemployment as industries was no longer tightened to the broken Comecon
and failed in competition of the global market without the participation of Bulgaria to new regional or world trade organizations, at the same time Bulgaria's industry showed to be backward which was amendable but in the hurry of political changes neither government, neither people were ready for industrial modernization. In fact the disbandment of former State security that was tightened to the Communist party (Bulgarian: ДС, DS) although brought relief to many Bulgarian people previously feared to speak or express other then communist views, at the same time boosted criminality never seen before in Bulgaria. The police was not ready to care about and chase the criminality which was before kept low with the fearful methods of DS. This led to mass stealing of both capital, machinery, materials and even furniture from the industry and also institutions. Referring to industry this led to soon failing to work of many factories, etc.
The Socialists presented their political visions as the defenders of the poor against the excesses of the free market. Reaction against economic reforms appeared because reforms left many unemployed (unemployment was almost not existing before in Bulgaria) and many towns literally was left to drop economically just in months, this allowed Zhan Videnov
of the Socialist party to win the 1995 parliamentary elections. Videnov was very young when he stepped in the PM post and his inability to show political strength and his incompetence was soon acknowledged by people surrounding him who took advantage of it for own purposes and personal enrichment. This incompetence and the misguided policies of the Socialist government in all exacerbated the economic conditions. The government was clearly unsupported by Western countries and thus Bulgarian foreign policy seriously suffered, and in 1996 the economy fell into hyperinflation and many banks went bankrupt. In the presidential elections of that year the SDS's Petar Stoyanov
was elected. In 1997 the BSP government collapsed after a month of nation-wide protests and government was appointed by the President Stoyanov which coped to calm the economic situation. Later SDS came to power.
The new Democratic government headed by Ivan Kostov
enjoyed strong support and moved Bulgarian economy ahead, but allegations of corruption and inability to cope with some of the serious problems in the country caused frustration. The electorate became to some extend dissatisfied with both parties - BSP and SDS. At that point Stoyanov who still held some good positions and had public approval took part for presidential elections seeking second mandate, but he scandalously failed with a blunder on TV and lost support, and the elections too. The newly elected President, former BSP leader, Georgi Parvanov
was not very well known to the public although he was in politics since the early 90s, and was well received for his wise political behavior. Although a BSP candidate he was rather perceived as a independent figure and he also always stated to be president to all Bulgarians without any political reference. At that point with the already dissatisfaction with both parties - BSP and SDS, people was looking for new alternatives and new politicians.
In 2001, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
(Bulgarian: Симеон Сакскобурготски, Simeon Saxcoburgotski), who had fled from communist Bulgaria as a nine-year-old boy in 1946 but returned in Bulgaria being a businessman having a big family of two sons and a daughter in 1996 at age of 59, announced he would come to Bulgaria to form a new political party . Sakskoburggotski formed the National Movement Simeon II
(NDSV), and swept away both major parties in the elections of June 2001. As Prime Minister he has followed a strongly and strictly pro-western course, with Bulgaria joining NATO in 2004 and the European Union
in 2007. Economic and political conditions visibly improved, although economic growth was not as high as expected and unemployment and emigration remained at relatively high levels. Problematic areas remained corruption, health care and organized crime, was also limited, and higher education was needing modernization.
At the next parliamentary elections NDSV didn't reach enough votes to form alone a government, in fact BSP gained the largest share of the votes, followed by NDSV. And because none of the parties had enough seats in Parliament to establish a government on its own after more than a month of negotiations initiated by President Parvanov for the forming of coalition government that was needed for the EU joining, a coalition was formed between BSP, NDSV and MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedoms
). Although divided by deep ideological and political differences, the three parties were united by a major goal: accomplishing the reforms necessary for joining the European Union in 2007. But ineffective administration and high-level corruption remained serious problems that was limiting the entrance of foreign businesses and entrepreneurs in the country. Additionally Sergai Stanishev's government was caught in his last months by the world financial crisis but denied its existence and refused to initiate steps for protecting Bulgarian economy from it for which he received wide disapproval.
In the parliamentary elections in 2009 the center-right party GERB
won, followed in large distance of BSP; NDSV coundn't take enough votes for Parliamentary seats. The new government of Boyko Borisov
stated some serious intentions for educational changes for liberation of the system and ability of students to choose easily universities and most important placed the accent on fiscal discipline.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in the late 1980s. In fact the release of tightening started with the end of the Stalinist era and continued slowly to the point that many previously forbidden literature was translated, the same was relevant for Hollywood movies, etc., stores appeared with western products that had elements of advertisement (advertisement of products was generally unknown and not used in the Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
since everything was accessible and the same to all), these new features of the late communist years acknowledged the slowly braking of the Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
for the Comcon people. This, together with the policies of Gorbachov, led to more freedom and expectations for democracy among people.
Todor Zhivkov
Todor Khristov Zhivkov was a communist politician and leader of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from March 4, 1954 until November 10, 1989....
as a communist party and country head and replacing him with Petar Mladenov
Petar Mladenov
Petar Toshev Mladenov was a Bulgarian communist diplomat and politician. He was the last Communist leader of Bulgaria from 1989 to 1990, and briefly the first President of democratic Bulgaria in 1990.-Early life and career:...
, but this gained them only a short respite in power. In February 1990 the Communist Party, forced by street protests gave up its claim on power and in June 1990 the first free elections since 1931 were held, won by the Bulgarian Socialist Party
Bulgarian Socialist Party
The Bulgarian Socialist Party is social-democratic political party in Bulgaria and successor to the Bulgarian Communist Party. The BSP is a member of the Party of European Socialists and Socialist International, and is currently led by Sergei Stanishev....
(the new name of the Communist Party). In July 1991 a new Constitution was adopted, which regulates a representative elected President and a Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Like the other post-Communist regimes in eastern Europe, Bulgaria found the transition to capitalism rather painful and not easy as expected. The anti-Communist Union of Democratic Forces
Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)
The Union of Democratic Forces is a political party in Bulgaria, founded in 1989 as a union of several political organizations in opposition to the communist government. In February 1997 the Union was transformed into a single unified party with the same name...
(in Bulgarian: СДС, SDS) took office between 1992 and 1994 to carry through the privatization of agricultural land, properties and industry issuing shares in government enterprises to all citizens, but these were accompanied by massive unemployment as industries was no longer tightened to the broken Comecon
Comecon
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance , 1949–1991, was an economic organisation under hegemony of Soviet Union comprising the countries of the Eastern Bloc along with a number of communist states elsewhere in the world...
and failed in competition of the global market without the participation of Bulgaria to new regional or world trade organizations, at the same time Bulgaria's industry showed to be backward which was amendable but in the hurry of political changes neither government, neither people were ready for industrial modernization. In fact the disbandment of former State security that was tightened to the Communist party (Bulgarian: ДС, DS) although brought relief to many Bulgarian people previously feared to speak or express other then communist views, at the same time boosted criminality never seen before in Bulgaria. The police was not ready to care about and chase the criminality which was before kept low with the fearful methods of DS. This led to mass stealing of both capital, machinery, materials and even furniture from the industry and also institutions. Referring to industry this led to soon failing to work of many factories, etc.
The Socialists presented their political visions as the defenders of the poor against the excesses of the free market. Reaction against economic reforms appeared because reforms left many unemployed (unemployment was almost not existing before in Bulgaria) and many towns literally was left to drop economically just in months, this allowed Zhan Videnov
Zhan Videnov
Zhan Vasilev Videnov was prime minister of Bulgaria from 25 January 1995 until 13 February 1997, a term remembered for the most severe economic and financial crisis in recent Bulgarian history. He was chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party from 1991 to 1996.-Education:Zhan Videnov graduated...
of the Socialist party to win the 1995 parliamentary elections. Videnov was very young when he stepped in the PM post and his inability to show political strength and his incompetence was soon acknowledged by people surrounding him who took advantage of it for own purposes and personal enrichment. This incompetence and the misguided policies of the Socialist government in all exacerbated the economic conditions. The government was clearly unsupported by Western countries and thus Bulgarian foreign policy seriously suffered, and in 1996 the economy fell into hyperinflation and many banks went bankrupt. In the presidential elections of that year the SDS's Petar Stoyanov
Petar Stoyanov
Petar Stefanov Stoyanov is a former President of Bulgaria from 1997 until 2002. He was elected as a candidate of the Union of Democratic Forces...
was elected. In 1997 the BSP government collapsed after a month of nation-wide protests and government was appointed by the President Stoyanov which coped to calm the economic situation. Later SDS came to power.
The new Democratic government headed by Ivan Kostov
Ivan Kostov
Ivan Yordanov Kostov was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from May 1997 to July 2001 and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces between December 1994 and July 2001....
enjoyed strong support and moved Bulgarian economy ahead, but allegations of corruption and inability to cope with some of the serious problems in the country caused frustration. The electorate became to some extend dissatisfied with both parties - BSP and SDS. At that point Stoyanov who still held some good positions and had public approval took part for presidential elections seeking second mandate, but he scandalously failed with a blunder on TV and lost support, and the elections too. The newly elected President, former BSP leader, Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov is a President of Bulgaria, whose second and last mandate expires on January 22, 2012; he was elected after defeating his predecessor Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the presidential elections in November 2001 and he came into office on January 22, 2002...
was not very well known to the public although he was in politics since the early 90s, and was well received for his wise political behavior. Although a BSP candidate he was rather perceived as a independent figure and he also always stated to be president to all Bulgarians without any political reference. At that point with the already dissatisfaction with both parties - BSP and SDS, people was looking for new alternatives and new politicians.
In 2001, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Simeon Borisov of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Tsar Simeon II or Simeon II of Bulgaria is an important political and royal figure in Bulgaria...
(Bulgarian: Симеон Сакскобурготски, Simeon Saxcoburgotski), who had fled from communist Bulgaria as a nine-year-old boy in 1946 but returned in Bulgaria being a businessman having a big family of two sons and a daughter in 1996 at age of 59, announced he would come to Bulgaria to form a new political party . Sakskoburggotski formed the National Movement Simeon II
National Movement Simeon II
The National Movement for Stability and Progress or Nacionalno dviženie za stabilnost i văzhod), until 3 June 2007 known as the National Movement Simeon II , is a liberal political party in Bulgaria, the vehicle of Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski, the deposed Tsar of Bulgaria and former Prime...
(NDSV), and swept away both major parties in the elections of June 2001. As Prime Minister he has followed a strongly and strictly pro-western course, with Bulgaria joining NATO in 2004 and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
in 2007. Economic and political conditions visibly improved, although economic growth was not as high as expected and unemployment and emigration remained at relatively high levels. Problematic areas remained corruption, health care and organized crime, was also limited, and higher education was needing modernization.
At the next parliamentary elections NDSV didn't reach enough votes to form alone a government, in fact BSP gained the largest share of the votes, followed by NDSV. And because none of the parties had enough seats in Parliament to establish a government on its own after more than a month of negotiations initiated by President Parvanov for the forming of coalition government that was needed for the EU joining, a coalition was formed between BSP, NDSV and MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedoms
Movement for Rights and Freedoms
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland...
). Although divided by deep ideological and political differences, the three parties were united by a major goal: accomplishing the reforms necessary for joining the European Union in 2007. But ineffective administration and high-level corruption remained serious problems that was limiting the entrance of foreign businesses and entrepreneurs in the country. Additionally Sergai Stanishev's government was caught in his last months by the world financial crisis but denied its existence and refused to initiate steps for protecting Bulgarian economy from it for which he received wide disapproval.
In the parliamentary elections in 2009 the center-right party GERB
Gerb
A gerb is a type of firework which produces a jet of sparks, usually lasting between 15 and 60 seconds. It is a thick-walled tube filled with pyrotechnic composition and possessing a choke, which is a narrowing in the tube...
won, followed in large distance of BSP; NDSV coundn't take enough votes for Parliamentary seats. The new government of Boyko Borisov
Boyko Borisov
Boyko Metodiev Borisov is a Bulgarian politician who has been Prime Minister of Bulgaria since July 2009. Previously he was Mayor of Sofia from 8 November 2005 until his election as Prime Minister....
stated some serious intentions for educational changes for liberation of the system and ability of students to choose easily universities and most important placed the accent on fiscal discipline.