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Bulgaria

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Last reviewed: 26 August 2009

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HISTORY

Early History

The Bulgarians are descended from the Slavs who migrated into the Balkan Peninsula from the 5th Century. In the 7th Century a new wave of migrants, the Bulgars (proto-Bulgarians), arrived in what would soon become Bulgaria. The first Bulgarian Kingdom was declared in 681 when the Byzantine Emperor was forced to cede Moesia (the northern half of present-day Bulgaria) to Khan Asparukh. The Bulgars were eventually assimilated into the majority Slav population leaving only their name as a legacy. Under the Bulgar Khans, Bulgaria expanded taking Central Macedonia and Albania from Constantinople.

Ottoman Rule - 1396-1878


Infighting between Bulgarian feudal lords weakened the Bulgarian Empire, which in the fourteenth century was pressed by the Serb kingdom to the West and the Ottoman empire to the South. Turnovo, the capital city, fell to the Ottomans after a 3-month siege in 1393, and Bulgaria was fully annexed in 1396.

Bulgaria remained a part of the Ottoman Empire until the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The war concluded with the Treaty of San Stefano, which created a large Bulgarian state, encompassing much of present-day Macedonia. However, the Western European powers, worried that the existence of a large pro-Russian country might destabilise the Balkans, demanded that the treaty be re-negotiated. The Treaty of Berlin provided for a smaller Bulgarian state, ruled by Prince Alexander Batenberg (1879-1886) and an autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia. Bulgaria was finally unified in 1908, and Prince Ferdinand was declared Tsar of the Bulgarians.

The early twentieth century

Bulgaria enjoyed mixed fortunes in the Balkan wars of the early twentieth century. They gained territory during the first Balkan War (1912), but the second Balkan war (1913) ended disastrously.

In summer 1915, Bulgaria entered the First World War on the side of the central powers, and signed an armistice with the Franco-British force on 29 September 1918. The peace treaty with Bulgaria was signed on 27 November 1919 at Neuilly-sur-Seine. Bulgaria lost some land, and was forced to pay reparations, but did not suffer as badly as many of the other defeated states.

Following the defeat, Tsar Ferdinand abdicated and was succeeded by his son, Tsar Boris III. Between the wars, Bulgaria was ruled by a succession of short-lived governments. Upon the outbreak of World War II, Boris III declared Bulgaria’s neutrality. However, Bulgaria came under huge pressure to join the Axis and, despite Boris’ best efforts, the Bulgarian army gradually became involved in military operations. Of particular note, though, was the Bulgarian government’s refusal to implement the Final Solution, as a result of which the majority of Jews living in Bulgaria were saved from the Holocaust.

In September 1944 Bulgaria switched sides to the allies and declared war on Germany, although not before a few confused hours where they were technically at war with every major combatant except Japan.

Communist Bulgaria

After the Second World War the Bulgarian Communist Party emerged to become the leading political force in the country. Under Soviet guidance, a purge destroyed the remnants of the old system, and a one-party system was imposed in 1947. From 1954 to 1989 Todor Zhivkov, Chairman of the State Council, dominated political life, becoming the longest serving leader of any of the Soviet bloc nations. Policies were a direct imitation of Soviet practice; industry was nationalised and agriculture collectivised. Unlike other eastern bloc nations, there were no Soviet troops in Bulgaria.

The communists attempted to modernise Bulgaria’s economy, and achieved some success with industrialisation, thanks not least to the Comecon scheme, which gave Bulgaria a captive market for transport and IT products in Eastern Europe. But by the 1980s, as elsewhere in Eastern Europe, the economy stagnated and the system began to collapse.  

Modern Bulgaria

Zhikov resigned on 10 November 1989, the day after the Berlin Wall was breached.  Although his demise had been catalysed by economic and social unrest, his departure was the consequence of a party coup rather than a general revolt. He was replaced by Petur Mladenov, who oversaw the 14th Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) congress in February 1990, where the totalitarian system was dismantled and a market-based economy and multiparty democracy announced.

During the transition period that followed, governments were short lived and often coalitions ruled the country. Reforms were patchy. Since the early elections in 1997 caused by an economic and political crisis, governments have been able to fulfil their full 4-year term of office, but no government has yet succeeded in being re-elected. However, relative stability has allowed Bulgaria to make better progress, and the country enjoyed a period of strong economic growth. Bulgaria joined NATO in 2006 and has become a member of the European Union in 2007.


The incumbent President of Bulgaria (fifth after the collapse of the totalitatian regime) is the former leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party Georgi Parvanov. Constitutionally, the President has little power, but Parvanov is very influential. He was re-elected President in October 2006, when he won at the second round run-off against the extremist Ataka candidate Volen Siderov. Parvanov received 76% of the vote, making him the first Bulgarian President to retain office via popular mandate since the changes of 1989. Turnout was low, with around 42% of the electorate voting in each of the rounds. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2011.

In 2009, both European Parliament and general elections were held in Bulgaria.  In both the popularity of GERB proved to be incontestable.  As a result of the 7 June EP elections out of the 17 Bulgarian MEPs in total, GERB has 5 MEPs, the coalition for Bulgaria 4, the MRF 3, Ataka 2, the NDSV (party of former King Simeon II) 2 and the Blue Coalition 1. If the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, Bulgaria will have an 18th representative in the EP who will be from the Blue Coalition.  

The 5th July general elections resulted in a resounding victory for the main opposition party GERB, led by the Mayor of Sofia, Boyko Borissov; and a heavy defeat for the ruling 3-party coalition of the Socialists (BSP), ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedom (MRF), and the liberal NDSV. GERB won 39.7% and 116 seats, BSP 17.2% and 40 seats, MRF 14.47% and 38 seats, Ataka (ultra nationalist) 9.37% and 21 seats, Blue Coalition (centre right, EPP) 6.73% and 15 seats and Law, Order and Justice (centre right) 4.13% and 10 seats.  Without entering into a coalition but with the support of Ataka, the Blue Coalition and Law, Order and Justice, the new cabinet took office on 27 July 2009.  The NDSV was effectively obliterated and failed to get a single MP.

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Contacts

Bulgaria

Address:

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
186–188 Queen's Gate
London SW7 5HL

Telephone:

(020) 7584 9400/9433
(020) 7589 3763 (Consular: Inquiries 1300-1500)
090 6554 0750 (Consular 24 Hour Automated Booking system)
(020) 7581 4903 (Commercial)

Fax:

(020) 7584 4948
(020) 7581 9073 (Consular)
(020) 7589 4875 (Commercial)

Email: trade@bulgariaembassy.org.uk

Office hours:

Mon–Fri: 0900–1800      

Consular Section:
Mon-Fri: 0930-1230 (with an appointment)
Mon-Fri: 1230-1400  (without an appointment)

Website: http://www.bulgarianembassy.org.uk