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1 1 (Updated July 13, 2001)

handle is hein.crs/crsaaxp0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code 98-627 F Updated July 13, 2001 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Bulgaria: Country Background Report Julie Kim Specialist in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary In June 2001, the party of Simeon II, Bulgaria's former King from the pre- communist era, won just short of a majority of the vote in parliamentary elections. Simeon, who founded his party three months earlier, did not run for a seat in parliament, but nevertheless was nominated by his party on July 12 to become Prime Minister. Simeon II is the first ex-monarch to return to power in eastern Europe since World War II. The Simeon II National Movement party replaces a center-right government that achieved many significant economic reforms and consolidated Bulgaria's pro-Western orientation. Primary goals for Bulgaria remain full membership in NATO and the European Union. U.S. Administrations and Congress have noted Bulgaria's positive role in promoting peace and stability in the Balkan region. This report will be updated as events warrant. Background From the 14'h to the 19'h century, Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman empire. It gained independence in the late 19'h century. Bulgaria was on the losing side of three wars in the 20'h century and came under communist rule in 1944. During the Cold War, Bulgaria had the reputation of being the Soviet Union's most stalwart ally in the Warsaw Pact. Todor Zhivkov, head of the Bulgarian Communist Party, led a repressive regime in Bulgaria for 35 years. Beginning in 1989, Bulgaria began a gradual process of transformation to a democratic and market economic state that progressed more slowly than in other central European countries (such as Poland or Hungary), but with no violent changes in power as in Romania or Yugoslavia. Bulgaria is a parliamentary democracy with a directly elected president. The prime minister and council of ministers hold most executive powers. Members of parliament are elected for four years, while the president has a five-year term. In 1994 parliamentary elections, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the former communist party, won an absolute majority of the vote. Under Socialist Party leader and Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, economic reforms stalled while corruption grew. The Videnov government steadily lost support as economic conditions deteriorated to crisis levels. In early 1997, Congressional Research Service +* The Library of Congress

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