 The
Republic of Bulgaria is situated at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula in South-Eastern
Europe. Currently the country is member of the United Nations,
the Council of Europe, the NATO and Associated
Member of the EU. Bulgaria is also member of the World Trade Organisation - WTO (former GATT) and the Central European Free Trade
Agreement (CEFTA). Following the remarkable popular victory of ex-king Simeon's NDS party on 17 June 2001, Simeon II Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, became the Prime Minister. In November 2001, Bulgarian voters elected 44-year old Georgi Parvanov to be their president in an apparent show of frustration over poverty and corruption in the country. M. Parvanov is to be the leader who will prepare the ground for Bulgaria's EU and NATO membership. Since early 1997 Bulgaria has been governed by a right-wing coalition with a strong and stable social and parliamentary support for four years. The President of the Republic was also member of the same coalition. First established in 681 as a Federal Union between Slav, Proto-Bulgarian and Thrace tribes, Bulgaria becomes a powerful state during the period VIII - XII centuries preceded by the Byzance Empire built over the ruins of ancient Roman Empire. At the end of XIV century, after the dramatic Battle of Nicopolis, the Ottoman Empire conquers Bulgaria and brings to a halt the emergent forces of early medieval Renaissance. 1878 San Stefano Peace Treaty ends the Russo-Turk war and tears the country in 5 pieces. Bulgaria never recaptures its Old Glory and political power. Following controversial political decisions, Bulgaria enters both world wars on the wrong side. However, it is known for being the country that saved all its Jew population from the Nazi's Holocaust during the Second World War. Post-war reparations deprive the country from the vital financial resources needed for its development. After several years of sustainable growth under the Sax-Coburg royal dynasty, a communist coup d'etat takes the country to 45 years of totalitarian government and political dependency from Soviet Union. In 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the fight for power within the Communist Party provokes controlled social grievance and opposition movements emerge. After a number of manipulated elections preserve the status quo, in 1992 the opposition block forms a new government to last 9 months. Several communist-controlled governments follow until the beginning of 1997 when massive social unrest freezes the economy and the last communist government resigns. The economy of Bulgaria still suffers from the deep economic crisis resulting from the transition to market economy. Privatisation of state-owned entities from all sectors is on going with foreign investments starting to flow in the country. Since June 1997 the country's financial system operates under currency board conditions. The Bulgarian Lev is linked to the Euro in a fixed exchange rate and now 1 Lev is equal to 0.51 Euro. The new international currency code is BGN instead of BGL. Under currency board, along with many other restrictions, the State budget deficit can not be financed by the Central Bank. Re-financing of banking sector is strictly prohibited as well. Thus the economy at all levels operates at the point where income is at least equal to expenditure.
Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic by Constitution. The National Assembly consists of 240 directly elected MPs. Parliamentary elections are held every 4 years. The Prime Minister is nominated by the President and suggests Council of Ministers to be voted by the Assembly. The President of the Republic is also directly elected with a 5-year mandate. The President is mostly a ceremonial figure. However, he is also Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Army. The parliamentary elections held on 17 June 2001 were the fifth held since the establishment of a multiparty system, and the fourth held on the basis of proportional representation with a four-percent threshold. The outgoing 240-member Parliament elected in 1997 was the first to complete its full four-year term since the current Constitution was adopted in 1991. The most significant parties and coalitions contesting the 17 June elections included: the ruling United Democratic Forces (ODS) coalition (including the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS); the Coalition for Bulgaria, uniting the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and a number of smaller leftist formations; the newly established National Movement "Simeon II"; the Coalition Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS, including the party of the same name, the Liberal Union, and "Euroroma", a formation representing the Roma population); the Bulgarian Euro-Left and its coalition partners; and the Gergyovden-VMRO coalition. Over the past four years, Bulgaria has achieved marked progress in a number of fields. Nonetheless, popular discontent with the hardships of social reforms cost the governing coalition to lose considerable ground. In its stead, the two-month-old Coalition National Movement "Simeon II", headed by the former King of Bulgarians Simeon II, was slated to return the largest number of MPs to the new Parliament. Following the remarkable popular victory of ex-king Simeon's NDS party on June 17, 2001, Simeon II Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, has accepted his party's unanimous approval of his candidacy for Prime Minister, (http://www.bulgariadaily.com/). The role of Prime Minister in Bulgaria, as in the UK, is very important and influential. Committed to economic reform and in particular raising the average monthly income from 250 Lev, to 400 Lev within 800 days, the new PM will have his work cut out with plenty of other problems. More information about Simeon II, the former King of Bulgarians and actual Prime Minister of Bulgaria. In November 2001, to many people's surprise, Bulgarian voters have elected 44-year old
Georgi Parvanov, an ex-Communist, to be their president in an apparent show of frustration
over poverty and corruption in the country (see results of elections). M.
Parvanov is to be the (mainly symbolic) leader who will prepare the ground for Bulgaria's
NATO and EU membership. He will replace Petar Stoyanov, his predecessor who was generally
liked during his five years in office. Only, Bulgarians wanted a change and send again a
clear message to all Bulgarian politicians: we want a change, start fighting poverty and
corruption immediately. It was the same emotion that last June led Bulgarians to send the
not-unsuccessful centre-rightwing government of Ivan Kostov home, replacing it with the
National Movement led by ex-king Simeon II.
� nbulgaria 1999-2003, You are viewing nbulgaria web site. . Last updated: 05 August 2003 . Page maintained by [email protected]. If you have comments or suggestions, e-mail me. For further information, please contact Mr. Neytcho Iltchev, to whom you can send your remarks and recommendations. Telephone: +359 2 9842 7579 ; Fax: +359 2 981 1719. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected];
About Neytcho Iltchev (webmaster) - Curriculum Vitae, Professional Experience, Publications & Analysis D�couvrir la Bulgarie (pour ceux qui pr�f�rent la langue de Moli�re)
You could consult the site about Bulgaria's brief
history outlines , by Dimiter Markovski.
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