Guides Bulgaria / Geography

Guides BULGARIA : POLITICS

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Bulgaria is a Parliamentary Republic and the basic power in the country is the legislative one.

The government (The Council of Ministers) is the main body of the executive power, headed by the Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev. The Council of Ministers rules and conducts the internal and foreign policy of the state, secures the public order and the national security, exercises control over the public administration and the military forces.

The Prime Minister Boiko Borisov is nominated by the largest parliamentary group, after which the President hands in the mandate to him for forming the government. The proposed Council of Ministers is voted by the National Assembly, which controls directly the activity of the government.

The President Gueorgui Purvanov is the Head of State and is elected with direct elections once in every five years, for not more that two mandates. The President is the supreme commander of the military forces of the Republic of Bulgaria. The President is the Chairperson of the Consultative Council for national security.

The Parliament (The National Assembly) exercises the legislative power, as well as the right to parliamentary control. The National Assembly adopts laws, decisions, declarations and statements. The mandate of the National Assembly is a 4 - year one.

Distribution of seats 240 (elected directly by the voters for a 4 year term) by Political Groups

Coalition for Bulgaria - 82
National Movement Simeon the Second - 53
Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) - 34
Ataka Coalition - 21
Group of the United Democratic Forces, DP, National Alliance - BAPU, BAPU, St. George's Day Movement, Equal Social Model Movement - 20
Group of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria - 17
Bulgarian People's Union - 13

The acting Constitution (July 1991). It was built on the basic principles of the contemporary constitutionalism. The Constitution provides a multi- party parliamentary system and free elections, in which all the citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria take part with the right to vote.

The judicial power in Bulgaria is independent. It is built up on the basis of a procedure of three instances:the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC), and the Supreme Cassation Court (SCC) exercise control over the implementation of the law by the courts of lower instances, and take decisions on the legality of the executive power’s acts. The Constitutional Court determines if the laws and the international agreements are in compliance with the Constitution.

Foreign policy
Since its accession to the NATO on 29 March 2004 Bulgaria has proved its full capability to fulfill the duties and obligations of a Member. In April 2006 Sofia hosted a high-level NATO forum - the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Member States, which was an important step in the preparations for the Riga Summit in November 2006.

January 1, 2007, Bulgaria acquired officially the status of full member of the European Economic Community EU. As a member of the EU, Bulgaria became actively involved in the preparation of Europe’s agenda and in the adoption and implementation of the political, economic, social and foreign-policy priorities of the Union.

Bulgaria was admitted as a full member of the United Nations (UN) on 14 December 1955. Bulgaria has participated in the following international peacekeeping operations (PKOs): UNTAG in Cambodia – 1992-93; UNOMA in Angola – 1995-99; UNMOT in Tajikistan – 1995-2000; UNMEE in Ethiopia/Eritrea – 2000-2004; UNMIBH (UN) SFOR (NАТО) & ЕUFOR (EU) (the latter since December 2004) in Bosnia and Herzegovina – since 1997; UNMIK (UN) & KFOR (NАТО) in Kosovo – since 2000; the EU Humanitarian Mine Clearing Mission in Croatia – 1999-2000; ISAF (UN/NАТО) in Afghanistan – since 2002; the Multinational Coalition Forces in Iraq – since 2003; UNMIL in Liberia – since 2004; UNIFIL, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon – 2006.

Bulgaria is a Member of UNESCO since 17 May 1956.

The flag - Republic Bulgaria

L'hymne Nationale de la Bulgarie

National currency
1 Lev = 100 stotinki

Official holidays

January 1st – New Year's Holiday
March 3d – National Holiday (french)
Easter, and the first Monday after Easter
May 1st – Labour Day
May 6th – Gergyovden, and the Bulgarian Military Army’s Day
May 24th – Cyril and Methodius Day
September 6th – Unification Day
September 22d – Independence Day
November 1st - National Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders
December 24,25,26 – Christmas Days;

27 Administrative regions

Blagoevgrad	Burgas	Varna
Veliko Tarnovo	Vratza	Vidin
Gabrovo	Dobrich	Pernik
Kustendil	Kardjali	Pleven
Montana	Lovetch	Plovdiv
Pazardjik	Razgrad	Rousse
Sofia district	Silistra	Sliven
Stara Zagora	Smolyan	Haskovo
Shumen	Targovishte	Yambol

State Agencies and Commissions

More information
The Official Web Portal of the Diplomatic Missions of Bulgaria Abroad
Diplomatic Missions in Sofia