NEW BULGARIAN HISTORY

After restoring the national state-hood in 1878 Bulgaria was a constitutional monarchy with a democratic government and a quickly developing economy. The processes of successful growth were discontinued as a result of the adventurism of king Ferdinand I that led to the catastrophes of 1913 (when this country had to wage wars against Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, and Romania at the same time) and of 1918 (warring against the Entente countries). 1923 and 1934 – Democratically elected governments were toppled via coups d’Etat that brought to power authoritarian regimes.



1941 - Bulgaria entered World War II on the side of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis. Bulgaria was the only ally of Hitler Germany which did not allow the killing of its Jewish citizens. It was thanks to king Boris III and to the Bulgarian governments that no hostilities were waged on this country’s territory.



1944 - After World War II, as a result of the Yalta agreements between the Great Powers, Bulgaria chanced in the field of influence of the Soviet Union.



1953-1989 - Years of the communist rule of Todor Zhivkov who headed both the party and the state.



10 November 1989 – Under the pressure of domestic and international circumstances Todor Zhivkov was forced to resign. Bulgaria once again embarked on the road of democratic development.



Democratic Bulgaria



7 December 1989 - The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) was formed as a unification of 13 opposition organizations.



10-17 June 1990 - The first free parliamentary elections.



12 July 1991 - A new democratic Constitution was passed.



13 October 1991 - The first free local authorities elections.



January 1992 - The first free presidential elections. Zhelyu Zhelev was elected as head of the state.



1994 - The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) returns to power in general election.



1995 - BSP's Zhan Videnov is prime-minister.



1997 - Mass protests over economic crisis. Opposition boycotts parliament and calls for elections.



3 November 1996 – Petar Stoyanov, proposed by the UDF, was elected with a landslide majority as President of the Republic of Bulgaria.



19 April 1997 - The Parliamentary elections were won by the Democratic Forces United /DFU/. A government was formed headed by Ivan Kostov, prime-minister. Bulgaria started on the road of genuine democratic reforms.

Bulgarian currency pegged to German mark.



2001 June - Former King Simeon II's party, National Movement Simeon II, wins parliamentary elections. Simeon Sakskoburggotski becomes Bulgarian premier in July.



2001 December - Parliament agrees to destruction of Soviet-made missiles by late 2002, ahead of NATO membership.



2002 November - Bulgaria included on list of seven countries formally invited to join NATO at Prague summit.



2004 March - Bulgaria is admitted to NATO.



2005 April - Bulgaria signs EU accession treaty, putting it on course to join in 2007 provided reforms are implemented in time.



2005 June-August - Socialist Party led by Sergei Stanishev tops the poll in general elections. After weeks of wrangling the main 3 parties sign a coalition deal under which he becomes prime minister.