About Bulgaria on-line!The author does not pretend for complete coverage on any of the below topics. This page is intended to provide a brief and comprehensive summary on Bulgarian history, economy and politics to the uninitiated rather than being a thorough reference. |
 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).
*** Bulgarian History Outline *** After the apogee and the fall of Great Bulgaria that govern utterly over large territories from nowadays Austria to Ural and Siberia till middle of seventh century, one Bulgarian people guided by Asparukh established the First Bulgarian Kingdom in 681, a Federal Union between Slav, Proto-Bulgarian and Thrace tribes. Another Bulgarian people, guided by khan Kotragh, moved to the North-East and set up the Volga Bulgaria with capital Bulgar (now Kazan), occupying the land around the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers. During the period VII - XIII centuries, Bulgaria 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. The Treaty of Berlin 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. Since June 1997 Bulgaria's financial system has been operating under a currency board arrangement. The exchange rate of the Bulgarian lev was fixed by law to the deutschmark and later to the euro at the level of 1.95583 (1 Lev equals 0.51 Euro). Legally, the currency board is institutionalized through the Issue Department of the Bulgarian National Bank, whose primary function is defined as maintaining full foreign exchange cover for the total amount of the BNB's monetary liabilities. 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. The currency board arrangement is expected to be maintained until the country joins the Eurozone in 2011-2012 (projected).
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. Since the 2001 parliamentary elections Bulgarian party politics has been enlivened by the unexpected return of the Bulgarian king in exile – Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in the role of a prime minister after his party (National Movement Simeon the Second - NMSS) won the battle for hearts and minds, one seat short of an absolute majority. The 2005 election ended eight years of opposition for the Bulgarian Socialist Party. As part of Coalition for Bulgaria it received 34% of the vote (82 seats), but failed to ensure an overall majority. In the last six free elections held since 1989, no government has been re-elected -- each has had to implement stringent economic and social reforms, since the fall of communism, and has lost popular support as a result.
� nbulgaria 1999-2004, You are viewing nbulgaria web site. Last updated: 27 May 2004 . Page maintained by nbulgaria. If you have comments or suggestions, e-mail me. For further information, please contact Mr. Ney Ilchev, to whom you can send your remarks and recommendations. Tel.: +359 2 98427579. See more information about Bulgaria given by the CIA World Factbook 2000 Information from Encyclopaedias about Bulgaria:
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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