Political system of Bulgaria

1. Political system of Bulgaria Political systems in South-Eastern Europe POL 482 Věra Stojarová

2. Character of the regime Bulgaria as one of the truliest allies of USSR Živkov even proposed (couple of times) Bulgaria to be the 16th Soviet republic, Bulgaria got the biggest economical support from Big Brother Živkov got to power with the Chruščov personal intervention Gossips: Ludmila Živkova, daughter of the Bulgarian leader as the most controverse figure of the political scene, did not agree with the subordination to USSR, propagated the idea that Bulgaria will happen to be the cultural centre of the world, saw herself as Bulgarian saint or reincarnation of Jesus Christ, in 1981 organized the Ceremony of the 1 300 anniversary of the Bulgarian state (Bulgaria was before Russia, the Bulgarians set up the orthodox church), she died being 39, speculations that she was poisoned by Russions. No previous long-standing experience with transition

3. Beginning of the Transition ethnic Bulgarian (83.9%),Turks(9.4%) and Roma (4.7%). Renationalisation of the Bulgarians towards the Turks in 1984-85 the protests led by Turks followed (protests were the results of the unsuccessfull economical reform The repression of the Turks followed and some 300 000 Turks left for Turkey (or were expelled by the Bulgarians) The expulsion (leaving) of Turks broke the Bulgarian supplies (Turks were the biggest suppliers) 1987 Živkov wanted to save the regime and propagated some corrections – pereustrojstva – reductions of the powers of the Bulgarian communist party (refused by Moscow)

4. Beginning of the Transition Round tables of the communist leadership with opposition Bulgarian communist party renamed – Bulgarian socialist party and won the first democratic elections in april 1990 Želju Želev was elected as a president in September 1990 (holding office till 1997, philosoph, kicked out of the party for the anti-communism, comparison of the fascism and communism as two totallitarian regimes.

5. Polarisation of the political scene The reds (Bulgarian socialist party, BSP) The blues (Union of the democratic forces, SDS) And the Turks (Movement for the rights and freedoms, DPS) New elections according to the new constitution took place in October 1991: SDS 36 %, BSP 33 %, DPS 7,5 % Minority party of SDS, prime minister Filip Dimitrov

6. Follow up Massive unemployment follow the reforms Uncompetitive and backward industries Painfull economical reforms = instability, often changes of the governments. The Turks were mainly hurt by the economical reforms Mccarthysmus (Law about the taking away of the pensions of former politburo, nonvalidity of the titles awarded in USSR, screening of the politicians as well as representatives of the church – patriarch Maxim was asked to resign because of his collaboration with the former regime.

7. 1997 Critical year – after the elections of the president the prime minister Žan Videnov resigned because of his unsuccessfull candidacy No government, no prime minister High inflation and the currency depreciation Outburst of strikes Demonstrators attacked the parliament building and insulted the MPs General strike in February 1997 Caretaker government set up

8. Early parliamental elections in fall 1997 The right in coalition Union of democratic forces (ODS) ODS (Democrats led by SDS) 137 MPs BSP (socialists) 58 MPs Euroleft 14 MPs BBP (Bulgarian enterpreneurs party) 12 Alliance for national salvation Government set up by Ivan Kostov

9. Follow up former Tsar Simeon II, who had left Bulgaria as a nine-year-old boy in 1946returned in 1996 as a wealthy 59-year-old businessman under the name Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. National Movement Simeon II (NMS2)elections of June 2001 strongly pro-western course joining NATO in 2004 the European Union in 2007.

10. Summary 1992-94 Union of democratic forces 1995-1997 Bulgarian socialist party 1997 -2001Union of democratic forces 2001 – 2005 national movement simeon II 2005-2009 Socialists 2009 -2013 GERB 2013 Socialists

11. President President together with vice-president directly elected, 5 years term, max. twice. Symbolic function. Georgi Parvanov since 22.1.2002, vice-president Angel Marin. To be elected, a candidate shall require more than one-half of the valid ballots, provided that more than half of all eligible voters have cast their ballots in the election. The vice-president can lead the country in case of resignation or death of the president. President has a veto right, parliament can outvote this veto with the absolute majority of the all MPs. Petur Mladenov April - 6 July 1990 Zhelyu Zhelev 1990 - 1997 Petur Stoyanov1997 - 2002 Georgi Purvanov 2002 –2012 Rosen Plevneliev 2012-

12. Parliament 240 MP´s , 4 years, candidates must be over 21, proportional voting system, 4 % threshhold, d ´Hondt method. For passing of the new constitution, changes of state borders or the change of the state system the Great Assembly has to be called up – 400 MP´s. The proposal shall by accepted by 2/3 majority in three consequent ballots.

13. Main political parties : BSP Successor of communist party Member of Socialist International Largest party in Bulgaria in terms of members Led by Sergei Stanisev

14. Populism in Bulgaria • NDSV – National Movement for Stability and Progress • GERB • Ataka • RZS – Order, Law and Justice

15. National Movement for Simeon the Second (stability and progress) • the crisis oftraditional parties, • the overall disappointment of the voters from the political and economictransition (the “losers” becoming the biggest part of the population), • the personal charisma of theleader King Simeon II and his “European” background, compared to the traditional politicians • the new type of discourse- the “Europeanstyle” of campaign and the unbelievable promises of rapid progress • King Simeon II announced that he would like to be the leader of “allBulgarians” • improve radically the economic andsocial parameters of the country

16. NDSV • NDSV defined itself as a movement rather then a party • a chance should be given to everybody to show its capacities andchose the members of its party from the “ordinary people having some expertise” • decisions were taken mainly by the leader himself, „authoritarian” style • “emotional” then based on realpolitical program • Defendingthe “Bulgarian nation and people” and being against “alldivisions“ • Newcomeron the political scene, an opponent of traditional parties

17. Bulgaria: GERB – Citizens for European development of Bulgaria • heraldic sign orcoat of arms in Bulgarian as acronym • This party was created by the personal bodyguard of King Simeon II. , mayor of Sofia and formerSecretary General of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) BoykoBorissov. • 2006 set up • won 2009 elections • discourse against the ruling elite and the mafia • an image of aperson trying to solve everyday problems and going to many cities in Bulgaria • “I proved I cansatisfy people’s needs- while the others were talking, I was working and solving problems”. • “us” versus “them” • to finish once and forall with the mafia and the former agents of the communist secret services in Bulgaria • always present in the media • close to the people, “one of them”,always being present and “speaking their language”.His direct contact with people certainly distinguished him alsofrom the “aristocratic” style of King Simeon II

18. Ataka • Before 2005 general elections by Volen Siderov • Anti-establishment, anti-NATO and anti-EU discourse as well as his hostile attitude the Turkish and Romaminorities in Bulgaria. • the world conspiracytheories and the anti-Bulgarian policies • scored 8% on the national elections,thus becoming the fourth largest party in Bulgarian Parliament • discourse of “Us” vs “Them” : “they are corrupt and will ruin the future of our country”, “theywork with the mafia and steal our money”, “they are all enemies of Bulgaria”. • This radicalattitude was not only demonstrated in the speeches and appeals but also included some actions- theparty left the Parliament in the late 2008 • Isolated position inside the Parliament, reinforced its antiestablishmentappeal • It criticises the organization of thepolitical system: its defends the idea ofdirect democracy, a “greater control on the politicians and judiciary monitoring of their actions”. • also mobilized its supporters while going on the streets and organizing public meetings

19. Bulgaria: Order, Law and Justice -RZS • shortly before the 2005 elections by politicianshaving heterogeneous political background and coming from different other parties (though mainlyODS). • The party defined itself as radical conservative • directed against Bulgarian political elite’s corruption, the fight against the mafia and the politiciansrelated with organized crime circles. • Its leader YaneYanev • Its party stayed marginalbut played a certain role as it raised questions • The discourse “the corrupt elite” vs. “the honest people” • Protest party • Theweaker electoral support for his party suggest that itisnot appealing to the electorate, partly because of Yanevbackground as being a member ofthree different parties since the beginning of the 1990s