From 1946 to 1990, Bulgaria had a Communist form of government with only one legal political party, the Bulgarian Communist Party. Early in 1990, however, the Bulgarian constitution was amended to allow a multi-party system, and in July 1991 a new constitution was approved.

A. Executive and Legislature

The government is led by the president of the republic, who is directly elected by universal suffrage for a term of five years. The legislature is a unicameral body called the National Assembly, which consists of 240 members elected by popular vote, by proportional representation, for four-year terms. The Assembly elects the Council of Ministers, which is the highest administrative body in the Bulgarian government. The prime minister is the chair of the Council of Ministers.

B. Judiciary

The constitution enacted in 1991 provides for an independent judiciary and for the establishment of a constitutional court, consisting of 12 members elected or appointed for a term of 9 years. The Supreme Administrative Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation sit in Sofia. The Supreme Judicial Council consists of 25 members: the chief prosecutor, heads of both supreme courts, 11 members elected by the judiciary, and 11 members elected by the National Assembly. Other tribunals in Bulgaria include provincial courts, regional courts, and military courts.

C. Political Parties

During 1990 and 1991, the period of Communist domination ended and Bulgaria became a multi-party state. More than 60 political parties contested the parliamentary elections of October 1991 and over 35 at the June 2001 elections.

Prior to 1990, the Communist Party exercised political power through its mass organization, the Fatherland Front. The Front was formed in 1943 as a coalition of Communists, Socialists, and other factions. Membership of the Front totalled about 4.4 million in the late 1980s; the Communist Party at that time had some 930,000 members. The Bulgarian Agrarian People’s Union, a remnant of what had formerly been the largest political party in Bulgaria, was a subordinate part of the Fatherland Front until 1990, when its former political rights were restored.

At the 2001 general election the leading parties, with the number of seats gained in parentheses, were as follows: National Movement Simeon II (120); United Democratic Forces, a coalition of 5 parties (51); Coalition for Bulgaria, formed by 16 parties (48); and the Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, a union of 3 parties (21).

D. Local Government

All regions, municipalities, and communes are administered by popularly elected people’s councils. Council members are elected to terms of two and a half years. The councils are responsible for all economic, cultural, and social problems within the area and supervise all government-owned enterprises.

E. Health and Welfare

In 2005 average life expectancy at birth was 68.4 years for men and 75.9 years for women. Matters of health and medicine in Bulgaria are under the overall control of the ministry of public health. Health services are provided free to all, although doctors are permitted part-time private practice. In the mid-1990s Bulgarians were served by more than 29,300 doctors and 5,400 dentists.

A programme providing pensions, recreational facilities, and welfare benefits was established in 1958. Funds are contributed by employers, and payments are provided for in the national budget. The state provides monthly allowances to parents with children under the age of 16. In 2005 the infant mortality rate was 21 deaths per 1,000 live births, and in 1999 there was 1 doctor for every 290 people. Expenditure on health care in 2001 amounted to 9.64 per cent of total government spending.

F. Defence

The Bulgarian armed forces in 2003 totalled approximately 51,000 service personnel, including up to 49,000 conscripts serving a nine-month term. The army had about 1,786 tanks and 25,000 troops in 2001. Air force personnel numbered 13,100 in that year. The navy had a force of 4,370 and maintained three major bases on the Black Sea. Paramilitary forces, including border guards and security police, numbered about 34,000. In 2003, Bulgaria spent US$471 million (2.4 per cent of GDP) on defence.

G. International Organizations

Bulgaria is a member of the following organizations: Council of Europe (CE); Central European Initiative (CEI); Black Sea Economic Cooperation Pact (BSECP); Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); the Partnership for Peace (PFP); the World Trade Organization (WTO); the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); and the United Nations (UN).