Petar Mladenov
Encyclopedia
Petar Toshev Mladenov (22 August 1936 – 31 May 2000) was a Bulgaria
n 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.
. His father was an anti-fascist partisan
killed in action in 1944. He graduated from a military school, entered Sofia State University
, and graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1963. Soon afterward, he joined the Bulgarian Communist Party
.
and became foreign minister
in 1971, serving in that position for 18 years. In the same year, he was elected to the National Assembly
. He was one of the closest associates to longtime leader Todor Zhivkov
.
's reform efforts. He saw a chance to change Bulgaria's image as one of the most unreformed countries in the Soviet bloc. In May 1989, Zhivkov opened the border to Turkey to Turks wishing to leave the country. As a result of Zhivkov's forced assimilation policy which had been in force since 1984, this turned into an exodus where 320,000 Turks left the country. This brought near-unanimous international condemnation. Mladenov, who'd had to field most of the international complaints, was particularly upset because the expulsion was a flagrant violation of an international human rights accord he'd signed four months earlier.
Several other top officials, including Defense Minister Dobri Dzhurov, Premier Georgi Atanasov
and Finance Minister Andrey Lukanov
, were also upset with Zhivkov over the expulsion. Along with Mladenov, they began plotting to overthow Zhivkov. Although Lukanov did most of the organizational work, it was decided that Mladenov would be the new party leader. At the yearly Warsaw Pact
summit, he met with Mikhail Gorbachev
and got his tacit support for removing Zhivkov.
In October 1989, Mladenov organized a 35-nation environmental conference and invited the Bulgarian NGO Ecoglasnost to participate. Ten days into the conference, several Ecoglasnost members were beaten up by the Darzhavna Sigurnost
(secret police) and the militia
on orders from Zhivkov. When Mladenov found out about it, he decided Zhivkov had to go.
On October 24, Mladenov resigned as foreign minister. His resignation letter was a scathing condemnation of Zhivkov's way of ruling the country. Suspecting that Zhivkov might try to kill him, he sent a copy of the letter to the entire Politburo, as well as to Gorbachev. On November 9, just after he returned from a trip to China, Mladenov and his colleagues forced Zhivkov to resign. He was then elected general secretary of the party and Head of the State Council (President).
Having seen the overthrow of the other Eastern European communist governments, Mladenov hoped to open up the regime from above. He let it be known that he supported free elections, a greater role for the legislature and other reforms. Events, however, moved faster than he planned. Despite his promises of reforms, the people took to the streets almost every day to demand greater freedom. On December 11, Mladenov announced in a nationally televised address that the Communist Party was abandoning power and a multi-party election would be held in the spring.
Early the next year, the Communist Party renamed itself the Bulgarian Socialist Party
, and abolished the general secretary's post. In April, the country dropped "People's" from its official name, and on 3 April Mladenov was elected by the Parliament President of Bulgaria.
Mladenov resigned as president in July 1990 after allegedly suggesting the use of tanks against anti-government demonstration in December 1989, securing a place in history with the phrase 'The tanks had better come' . He did not run in the 1990 elections and largely retired from public life.
in Houston in 1986, leaving him in frail health in the ensuing years.
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...
n communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. 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
Mladenov was born to a peasant family in the village of Toshevtsi, Vidin ProvinceVidin Province
Vidin Province is the northwesternmost province of Bulgaria. It borders Serbia to the west and Romania to the northeast. Its administrative centre is the city of Vidin on the Danube river. The area is divided into 11 municipalities...
. His father was an anti-fascist partisan
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
killed in action in 1944. He graduated from a military school, entered Sofia State University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
, and graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1963. Soon afterward, he joined the Bulgarian Communist Party
Bulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
.
Foreign Minister
Mladenov joined the PolitburoPolitburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
and became foreign minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria is the ministry charged with overseeing the foreign relations of Bulgaria. It has been in existence since shortly after the Liberation of Bulgaria, with the first minister stepping into office on 17 July 1879...
in 1971, serving in that position for 18 years. In the same year, he was elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
. He was one of the closest associates to longtime leader Todor Zhivkov
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....
.
Role in Zhivkov's overthrow
During the 1980s, he became attracted to Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
's reform efforts. He saw a chance to change Bulgaria's image as one of the most unreformed countries in the Soviet bloc. In May 1989, Zhivkov opened the border to Turkey to Turks wishing to leave the country. As a result of Zhivkov's forced assimilation policy which had been in force since 1984, this turned into an exodus where 320,000 Turks left the country. This brought near-unanimous international condemnation. Mladenov, who'd had to field most of the international complaints, was particularly upset because the expulsion was a flagrant violation of an international human rights accord he'd signed four months earlier.
Several other top officials, including Defense Minister Dobri Dzhurov, Premier Georgi Atanasov
Georgi Atanasov
Georgi Ivanov Atanasov was a leading member of the Bulgarian Communist Party who served as Prime Minister from 1986-1990. Atanasov supported the move to oust Todor Zhivkov as Chairman of the State Council, joining Petar Mladenov in leading the opposition...
and Finance Minister Andrey Lukanov
Andrey Lukanov
Andrey Karlov Lukanov was a Bulgarian political figure.-Biography:Lukanov was born in Moscow, USSR, in the family of Karlo Lukanov, , a Bulgarian communist emigre....
, were also upset with Zhivkov over the expulsion. Along with Mladenov, they began plotting to overthow Zhivkov. Although Lukanov did most of the organizational work, it was decided that Mladenov would be the new party leader. At the yearly Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
summit, he met with Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
and got his tacit support for removing Zhivkov.
In October 1989, Mladenov organized a 35-nation environmental conference and invited the Bulgarian NGO Ecoglasnost to participate. Ten days into the conference, several Ecoglasnost members were beaten up by the Darzhavna Sigurnost
Committee for State Security
The Committee for State Security , popularly known as State Security was the name of the Bulgarian secret service during the Communist rule of Bulgaria and the Cold War ....
(secret police) and the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
on orders from Zhivkov. When Mladenov found out about it, he decided Zhivkov had to go.
On October 24, Mladenov resigned as foreign minister. His resignation letter was a scathing condemnation of Zhivkov's way of ruling the country. Suspecting that Zhivkov might try to kill him, he sent a copy of the letter to the entire Politburo, as well as to Gorbachev. On November 9, just after he returned from a trip to China, Mladenov and his colleagues forced Zhivkov to resign. He was then elected general secretary of the party and Head of the State Council (President).
Having seen the overthrow of the other Eastern European communist governments, Mladenov hoped to open up the regime from above. He let it be known that he supported free elections, a greater role for the legislature and other reforms. Events, however, moved faster than he planned. Despite his promises of reforms, the people took to the streets almost every day to demand greater freedom. On December 11, Mladenov announced in a nationally televised address that the Communist Party was abandoning power and a multi-party election would be held in the spring.
Early the next year, the Communist Party renamed itself 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....
, and abolished the general secretary's post. In April, the country dropped "People's" from its official name, and on 3 April Mladenov was elected by the Parliament President of Bulgaria.
Mladenov resigned as president in July 1990 after allegedly suggesting the use of tanks against anti-government demonstration in December 1989, securing a place in history with the phrase 'The tanks had better come' . He did not run in the 1990 elections and largely retired from public life.
Health
Mladenov underwent a heart bypassCoronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
in Houston in 1986, leaving him in frail health in the ensuing years.