View source for Politics of Bulgaria

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{{Update|the effects of the 2 October 2022 election|date=December 2022}}
{{Politics of Bulgaria}}

The '''politics of Bulgaria''' take place in a framework of a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] [[republic]],<ref>[http://www.vks.bg/english/vksen_p04_01.htm Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311164232/http://www.vks.bg/english/vksen_p04_01.htm |date=2014-03-11 }}</ref> whereby the [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria|prime minister]] is the [[head of government]], and of a [[multi-party system]].<ref name="LCCS Government">Bulgaria Library of Congress Country Study, ''Government and politics - overview'', p. 16</ref> [[Executive power]] is exercised by the government. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the [[Forms of government|government]] and the [[National Assembly of Bulgaria|National Assembly]]. The [[Judiciary]] is independent of the executive and the legislature.

After forty-five years of [[One-party state|single party system]], Bulgaria became an unstable party system in 1989. This system was dominated by democratic parties and opposition to socialists{{Snd}}the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] and several personalistic parties and the post-communist [[Bulgarian Socialist Party]] or its creatures, which emerged for a short period of time in the past decade. Personalistic parties could have been seen in the former governing (from 2001 to 2005) [[Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha|Simeon II]]'s [[NDSV]] party and [[Boyko Borisov]]'s [[GERB]] party.

Bulgaria has generally good [[freedom of speech]] and [[Human rights in Bulgaria|human rights records]] as reported by the [[US Library of Congress Federal Research Division]] in 2006,<ref>
{{cite web
| author = Library of Congress – Federal Research Division
| author-link = Federal Research Division
| title = Country Profile: Bulgaria
| url = http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Bulgaria.pdf
| publisher = Library of Congress
| pages = '''18''', 23
|date=October 2006
| access-date = 4 September 2009
| quote = Mass Media: In 2006 Bulgaria’s print and broadcast media generally were considered unbiased, although the government dominated broadcasting through the state-owned Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and print news dissemination through the largest press agency, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. [...]Human Rights: In the early 2000s, Bulgaria '''generally has been rated highly on the issue of human rights'''. However, some exceptions exist. Although the media have a record of unbiased reporting, Bulgaria’s lack of specific legislation protecting the media from state interference is a theoretical weakness.
}}{{US government sources}}
</ref> while [[Freedom House]] listed it as "free" in 2020, giving it scores of 33 for political rights and 45 for civil liberties.<ref>
{{Cite web|title=Bulgaria: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report|url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/bulgaria/freedom-world/2021|access-date=2021-05-14|website=Freedom House|language=en}}
</ref> However, in 2014, there were some concerns that the proposed new [[Criminal code|Penal Code]] would limit freedom of the press and assembly,<ref>{{cite news| url = https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304856504579336590405697378| title = Bulgaria Faces Criticism Over Proposed Legislation - WSJ| newspaper = Wall Street Journal| date = 22 January 2014| last1 = Carney| first1 = Sean}}</ref> and as a consequence freedom of speech. {{Democracy Index rating|Bulgaria|flawed democracy|2022}} Bulgaria was fully admitted to the [[Schengen area]] on January 1, 2025.<ref> {{Cite web|title=Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Area|url=https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/bulgaria-and-romania-join-schengen-area-2025-01-03_en}}</ref>

== Developments since 1990 ==
=== Parliamentary ===
After the fall of the communism in 1989, the [[Bulgarian Communist Party|former communist party]] was restructured and succeeded by the [[Bulgarian Socialist Party]] (BSP), which won the first post-communist elections for the Constitutional Assembly in [[Bulgarian Constitutional Assembly election, 1990|1990]] with a small majority. Meanwhile, [[Zhelyu Zhelev]], a communist-era dissident from the new democratic party - [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] (abbreviated in Bulgarian as SDS), was elected president by the Assembly in 1990. In the first years after the change of regime, Bulgarian politics had to (re)establish the foundations of a democratic society in the country after nearly fifty years of de facto totalitarian communism. The so-called period of transition (from a Soviet socialist model to an economic structure focused on development through economic growth) began in the early 1990s. The politics of Bulgaria was aimed at joining the European Union and the NATO fold, as the alliances were recognised to have political agendas similar to the goals of the new Bulgarian democracy.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

In contemporary Bulgaria, the government and its leader - the Prime Minister, have more political influence and significance than the President. Thus, the parliamentary elections set the short-term social and political environment in the country since the cabinet (chosen by the Prime Minister and approved by the parliament) decides how the country is governed while the President can only make suggestions and impose vetoes.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}

In the first parliamentary elections held under the new [[constitution of Bulgaria]], in [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 1991|October 1991]], the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] (SDS) party won a plurality of the seats, having won 110 out of the 240 seats, and created a cabinet alone with the support of the [[Movement for Rights and Freedoms]]—a liberal party (in Bulgarian abbreviated: DPS) which is widely perceived as a party of the ethnic Turks minority in Bulgaria. Yet, their government collapsed in late 1992, and was succeeded by a technocratic team put forward by the [[Bulgarian Socialist Party]] (BSP), which served until 1994 when it also collapsed. The President dissolved the government and appointed a provisional one to serve until early parliamentary elections could be held in December.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Library of Congress |title=Bulgaria: A Country Study |publisher=Federal Research Division |year=1994 |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/94043052/ |access-date=2025-11-07 }}</ref>

BSP won convincingly these elections in [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 1994|December 1994]] with a majority of 125 seats out of the 240. Due to the severe economic crisis in Bulgaria during their government, BSP's cabinet collapsed and in 1997 a caretaker cabinet was appointed by the President, again, to serve until early parliamentary elections could be held in April 1997.

The [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 1997|April 1997]] elections resulted in a landslide victory for the SDS, winning a majority of 137 seats in parliament, and allowing them to form the [[Kostov Government|next government]]. This proved to be the first post-communist government that did not collapse and served its full 4-year term until 2001.

In [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2001|2001]], the former monarch of Bulgaria [[Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]] returned to power, this time as prime minister with his [[National Movement Simeon II]] (in Bulgarian abbreviated: NDSV), having won half (120) of the seats.<ref>{{cite web |title=2001: The "royal" prime minister |url=https://bnr.bg/en/post/100603198/2001-the-royal-prime-minister |website=bnr.bg |language=en}}</ref> His party entered a [[Sakskoburggotski Government|coalition]] with the DPS and invited two functionaries of the BSP (who sat as independents). In opposition were the two previously governing parties - the Socialist Party and the Union of Democratic Forces. In the four years in opposition the SDS suffered the defection of numerous splinter groups. The ruling party NDSV itself [[Sakskoburggotski Government#Changes on February 23, 2005|ruptured]] into a pro-right core and a pro-liberal [[New Time (Bulgarian political party)|fringe]] group.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bulgaria's Ex-King Party Faces Split - Reports - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency |url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/81518/Bulgaria%27s+Ex-King+Party+Faces+Split+-+Reports |work=www.novinite.com}}</ref> Bulgaria entered [[NATO]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=19 Years after Bulgaria Joined NATO, Experts Comment on Its Importance and Challenges |url=https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/432034-19-years-after-bulgaria-joined-nato-experts-comment-on-its-importance-and-chall |website=www.bta.bg |language=en}}</ref>

In the aftermath, the BSP won the parliamentary elections in [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2005|2005]] with 82 out of the 240 seats, but as it did not get the majority of the seats, a [[Stanishev Government|coalition government]] was formed by the three biggest parties - BSP, NDSV and DPS. The elections also put in parliament some of the right-wing parties, as well as the extreme-right nationalist coalition led by the party [[Attack (political party)|Ataka]] as an answer to the former coalition government of NDSV with DPS.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Refugees |first1=United Nations High Commissioner for |title=Refworld {{!}} Bulgaria: The June 2005 federal election (June 2005 - August 2005) |url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/440ed6d114.html |website=Refworld |language=en}}</ref> Bulgaria entered the [[European Union]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Romania and Bulgaria join the EU |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6220591.stm |date=1 January 2007}}</ref>

In the parliamentary elections of [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2009|2009]], the centre-right party of [[Boyko Borisov]], the mayor of [[Sofia]], [[GERB]], won with 117 seats. The party formed a [[First Borisov Government|minority government]] with the support of the right-wing parties.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Bulgarian PM – DW – 07/27/2009 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/bulgarian-parliament-approves-new-government/a-4521521 |work=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> Once the governing party - the [[National Movement Simeon II]] did not amass enough votes to enter the parliament.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bulgaria ex-king resigns as party leader after poll |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-bulgaria-election-king-idUKTRE5653QY20090706 |work=Reuters |date=6 July 2009 |language=en}}</ref> The austerity measures required in the stagnation of the [[Great Recession]] led to [[2013 Bulgarian protests against the Borisov cabinet|massive protests]] and the resignation of the cabinet in early 2013, months before the end of GERB's term.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bulgarian government resigns amid growing protests |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-government-idUSBRE91J09J20130220 |work=Reuters |date=20 February 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

In the early [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2013|elections]] the former opposition party BSP received highest vote from the people. The socialist party chose the non-party former Minister of Finance [[Plamen Oresharski]] to form a [[Oresharski Government|cabinet]]. His cabinet was supported by the BSP and the DPS, opposed by GERB, while Ataka was absent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bulgaria approves new leader – DW – 05/29/2013 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/bulgarian-parliament-approves-government-of-new-pm-oresharski/a-16844978 |work=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

Only two weeks after its initial formation the Oresharski government came under criticism and had to deal with [[2013–14 Bulgarian protests against the Oresharski cabinet|large-scale protests]] some with more than 11 000 participants.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bulgarians protest government of 'oligarchs'|url=http://www.dw.de/bulgarians-protest-government-of-oligarchs/a-16909751|access-date=30 March 2014|newspaper=Deutsche Welle|date=26 June 2013|author=Seiler Bistra|author2=Emiliyan Lilov}}</ref> One of the main reasons for these protests was the controversial appointment of media mogul [[Delyan Peevski]] as a chief of the National Security State Agency.<ref>{{cite news|title=Birth of a civil society |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21586571-will-bulgarians-daily-protests-have-lasting-impact-birth-civil-society|access-date=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Economist|date=21 September 2013}}</ref> The protests continued over the lifetime of the Oresharski government. In all, the government survived 5 [[vote of confidence|votes of no-confidence]] before voluntarily resigning.<ref>{{cite web|title=Timeline of Oresharski's Cabinet: A Government in Constant Jeopardy|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/162221/Timeline+of+Oresharski%27s+Cabinet%3A+A+Government+in+Constant+Jeopardy|website=Novinite.com|publisher=Sofia News Agency|access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref> Following an agreement from the three largest parties (GERB, BSP and DPS) to hold early parliamentary elections for 25 March 2016,<ref>{{cite web|title=President Plevneliev Urges Outgoing Parliament to Review Budget|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/161878/President+Plevneliev+Urges+Outgoing+Parliament+to+Review+Budget|website=Novinite.com|publisher=Sofia News Agency|access-date=9 July 2014}}</ref> the cabinet agreed to resign, with the resignation of the cabinet becoming a fact on 13 January 2016. The next day parliament voted 180-8 (8 abstained and 44 were absent) to accept the government's resignation. Following the vote, President Plevneliev offered the mandate to GERB to try and form government, but it was refused. The next day the BSP returned the mandate as well.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bulgarian Socialist Party Returns Mandate|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/162268/Bulgarian+Socialist+Party+Returns+Mandate|website=Novinite.com|publisher=Sofia News Agency|access-date=25 July 2014}}</ref> On 21 January, the DPS refused the mandate as well. Finally, on 26 January, a [[Bliznashki Government|caretaker government]] led by [[Georgi Bliznashki]] was sworn into office and the Oresharski government was officially dissolved.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bulgaria's interim PM promises to restore public trust |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-bulgaria-election-primeminister-idUKKBN0G61NR20140806 |work=Reuters |date=6 August 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

As agreed, [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2014|parliamentary elections]] were held on 25 March 2016 to elect the 43rd [[National Assembly (Bulgaria)|National Assembly]].<ref name="Sofia News Agency">{{cite web|title=Bulgaria's 42nd Parliament Dissolved, Elections on October 5|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/162542/Bulgaria%27s+42nd+Parliament+Dissolved%2C+Elections+on+October+5|website=Novinite.com|publisher=Sofia News Agency|access-date=9 August 2014}}</ref> [[GERB]] became the largest party, winning 84 of the 240 seats with around a third of the vote. A total of eight parties won seats, the first time since the beginning of democratic elections in 1990 that more than seven parties entered parliament.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Petrov|first1=Angel|title=Bulgaria's Grand Parliament Chessboard Might Be Both Ailment and Cure|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/163898/Bulgaria%27s+Grand+Parliament+Chessboard+Might+Be+Both+Ailment+and+Cure|website=Novinite.com|publisher=Sofia News Agency|access-date=7 October 2014}}</ref> After being tasked by [[List of heads of state of Bulgaria|President]] [[Rosen Plevneliev]] to form a government, Borisov's GERB [[Second Borisov Government|formed a coalition]] with the [[Reformist Bloc]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Bulgaria: EPP President welcomes new coalition government led by Boyko Borissov (EN+BG) |url=http://www.epp.eu/bulgaria-epp-president-welcomes-new-coalition-government-led-boyko-borissov-enbg |website=www.epp.eu/ |access-date=13 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113184541/http://www.epp.eu/bulgaria-epp-president-welcomes-new-coalition-government-led-boyko-borissov-enbg |archive-date=November 13, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bulgarian parties approve coalition agreement, cabinet|url=http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/bulgarian-parties-agree-coalition-agreement-cabinet-309849|website=www.euractiv.com/|date=7 November 2014 |publisher=EurActiv|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=GERB and Reformist block finally sign a coalition agreement, the new cabinet to be voted today|url=http://www.ffbh.bg/en/news/gerb-and-reformist-block-finally-sign-a-coalition-agreement-the-new-cabinet-to-be-voted-today|website=www.ffbh.bg|publisher=FFBH|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> had a partnership agreement for the support of the [[Alternative for Bulgarian Revival]],<ref>[http://www.novinite.com/articles/164583/Bulgaria's+GERB+Party+Signs+Partnership+Deal+with+Left-Wing+ABV Bulgaria's GERB Party Signs Partnership Deal with Left-Wing ABV]</ref> and also had the outside support of the [[Patriotic Front (Bulgaria)|Patriotic Front]]. The cabinet of twenty ministers was approved by a majority of 136–97 (with one abstention). With the support of the coalition partner (the Reformist Bloc) members of the parties in the Bloc ([[Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria|Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB)]], [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces (SDS)]], [[Bulgaria for Citizens Movement|Bulgaria for Citizens Movement (DBG)]] and [[Bulgarian Agrarian National Union|Bulgarian Agrarian National Union (BZNS)]]) were chosen for Minister positions. The vice chairman of the [[Alternative for Bulgarian Revival]] party [[Ivaylo Kalfin]] was voted for Depute Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

In May 2017, [[Boyko Borisov]] was re-elected as Prime Minister of Bulgaria for the second time. Borisov had resigned and called early [[2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election|elections]] after his conservative GERB party lost the [[2016 Bulgarian presidential election|presidential elections]] previous year. He formed a coalition government with nationalist [[VMRO-BND]] and [[National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria]]. The [[Socialist Party of Bulgaria|Socialist Party]] and the Turkish [[Movement for Rights and Freedoms|DPS]] party formed the opposition.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.minareport.com/2017/05/05/borisov-elected-for-bulgarian-pm-for-a-third-time/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170608001455/http://www.minareport.com/2017/05/05/borisov-elected-for-bulgarian-pm-for-a-third-time/| archive-date = 2017-06-08| title = Borisov elected Bulgarian PM for a third time {{!}} MINA Report}}</ref>

The [[2020–2021 Bulgarian protests]] were triggered on 9 July 2020 when the Presidency of Bulgaria was raided by police and prosecutors as a result of a long-lasting conflict between the prime minister [[Boyko Borisov]] and the president [[Rumen Radev]].<ref>{{cite news |title=A seaside-villa scandal sparks huge protests in Bulgaria |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/07/23/a-seaside-villa-scandal-sparks-huge-protests-in-bulgaria |newspaper=The Economist |date=23 July 2020}}</ref> In April 2021, Borisov's party, center-right, pro-European [[GERB]] won the [[2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]]. It was again the largest party of the parliament but it did not get the absolute majority, indicating difficult coalition talks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/bulgaria-election-pm-borissovs-party-wins-but-falls-short-of-majority/a-57102610|title=Bulgaria election: PM Borissov's party wins but falls short of majority &#124; DW &#124; 05.04.2021|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref> All other parties refused to form a government,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgaria-faces-fresh-elections-socialists-refuse-form-government-2021-05-01/|title = Bulgaria faces fresh elections as Socialists refuse to form a government|website = [[Reuters]]|date = May 2021}}</ref> and after a brief deadlock, another elections were called [[July 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election|for July 2021]], with [[Stefan Yanev (general)|Stefan Yanev]] serving as an interim prime minister of a caretaker cabinet until then.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgarias-caretaker-prime-minister-says-priority-is-rule-law-2021-05-12/|title = Bulgaria's caretaker prime minister says priority is rule of law|website = [[Reuters]]|date = 12 May 2021}}</ref>

In the July 2021 snap [[July 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election|election]], an anti-elite party called There Is Such a People ([[ITN (Bulgarian political party)|ITN]])  finished first with 24.08 percent and former prime minister Boyko Borisov's GERB-led coalition finished second with 23.51 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-elections-borisov-gerb-trifonov/31357002.html| title = Final Results In Bulgarian Vote Confirm Win For Anti-Elite Party| newspaper = Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty| date = 14 July 2021}}</ref> A coalition government was unable to be formed, and so a third parliamentary election was scheduled for November 2021 to align with the regularly scheduled presidential election. In the [[2021 Bulgarian general election]], [[Kiril Petkov]]'s [[We Continue the Change|PP party]] emerged as surprise victors over the conservative GERB party, which had dominated Bulgarian politics in the last decade. In December 2021, Bulgaria's parliament formally elected [[Kiril Petkov]] as the country's next prime minister, ending a months-long political crisis. The new centrist-led government was a coalition led by Petkov's anti-corruption [[We Continue the Change|We Continue The Change]] party (PP) with three other political groups: the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, the anti-elite There Is Such A People party, and the liberal group Democratic Bulgaria. They together control 134 seats in Bulgaria's 240-seat parliament.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kiril Petkov chosen by Bulgarian parliament as next prime minister |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/13/kiril-petkov-bulgarian-centrist-leader-chosen-by-parliament-as-next-prime-minister |work=euronews |date=13 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The cabinet of Kiril Petkov fell after a vote of no confidence of 22 June 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Welle (www.dw.com) |first1=Deutsche |title=Bulgaria government collapses after no-confidence vote {{!}} DW {{!}} 22.06.2022 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/bulgaria-government-collapses-after-no-confidence-vote/a-62224345 |work=DW.COM}}</ref> President Radev appointed [[Galab Donev]] as acting prime minister to lead a caretaker cabinet. Bulgaria's fourth parliamentary [[2022 Bulgarian parliamentary election|elections]] in less than two years will be held on October 2, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bulgarian President Calls Snap Polls For October 2, Appoints Caretaker Cabinet |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-snap-elections-caretaker-cabinet/31968867.html |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2023,  because of the political deadlock, Bulgaria held its fifth parliamentary [[2023 Bulgarian parliamentary election|election]] since April 2021. GERB was the biggest, winning 69 seats. The bloc led by [[We Continue the Change]] won 64 seats in the 240-seat parliament. In June 2023, Prime Minister [[Nikolai Denkov]] formed a new coalition between We Continue The Change and GERB. According to the coalition agreement, Denkov will lead the government for the first nine months. He will be succeeded by former European Commissioner, [[Mariya Gabriel]], of the GERB party. She will take over as prime minister after nine months.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bulgaria's parliament elects new government led by PM Denkov |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/bulgarias-parliament-elects-new-government-led-by-pm-denkov-2023-06-06/ |work=Reuters |date=6 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

On [[October 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election|27 October 2024 parliamentary snap elections]] were held after all [[June 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election#Coalition negotiations|three attempts to form a government]] following the latest [[June 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election|June 2024 elections]] failed. This was the country's sixth election since April 2021. This series of snap elections is the result of [[2021–present Bulgarian political crisis|a political crisis affecting the country]].

=== Presidential ===
In 1992, [[Zhelyu Zhelev]] won Bulgaria's first presidential [[Bulgarian presidential election, 1992|elections]] and served as president until 1997. In the [[Bulgarian presidential election, 1996|second]], the winning president was another member of the Union of Democratic Forces, [[Petar Stoyanov]], who served until 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.petarstoyanov.com/en/mandate/|title = Mandate – Petar Stoyanov}}</ref> In [[Bulgarian presidential election, 2001|2001]], the leader of the [[Bulgarian Socialist Party]], [[Georgi Parvanov]] defeated Stoyanov.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1664310.stm|title=Profile: Georgi Parvanov|date=19 November 2001}}</ref> He took office in 2002 and served until 2012, becoming the first president to be reelected, after his successful [[Bulgarian presidential election, 2006|2006]] campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1072388.html|title=Parvanov Claims Victory in Bulgarian Presidential Election|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=8 April 2008 }}</ref> In [[Bulgarian presidential election, 2011|2011]] GERB candidate [[Rosen Plevneliev]] was elected to serve as president from 2012 until January 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bnr.bg/en/post/100137620/rossen-plevneliev-inaugurated-as-new-bulgarian-president|title = Rossen Plevneliev inaugurated as new Bulgarian President}}</ref> In [[2016 Bulgarian presidential election|2016]] Socialist party candidate,  former air force commander [[Rumen Radev]] won the presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/opposition-candidate-rumen-radev-leading-in-bulgaria-presidential-elections/a-36284829|title=Opposition candidate Rumen Radev leading in Bulgaria presidential elections &#124; DW &#124; 06.11.2016|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2016/11/14/Pro-Russia-candidate-wins-Bulgarias-presidential-election/9871479129863/|title=Pro-Russia candidate wins Bulgaria's presidential election}}</ref> On 18 January 2017, Rumen Radev was sworn in as the new President of Bulgaria.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/bulgaria-president-idINKBN1531TM?edition-redirect=in|title=Russia-friendly Radev sworn in as Bulgaria's president, set to dissolve parliament|newspaper=Reuters|date=19 January 2017|last1=Tsolova|first1=Tsvetelia}}</ref> President Rumen Radev, a vocal critic and rival of prime minister Borisov, announced that he will run for a second five-year term in autumn [[2021 Bulgarian presidential election|2021 presidential elections]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.macaubusiness.com/bulgarian-president-radev-to-seek-a-second-term/| title = Bulgarian president Radev to seek a second term {{!}} Macau Business| date = February 2021}}</ref> In November 2021, President Rumen Radev was easily re-elected in the [[2021 Bulgarian presidential election|presidential election]] with a very low turnout of 34 per cent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Radev Re-elected Bulgarian President on Record Low Turnout |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/11/22/radev-re-elected-bulgarian-president-on-record-low-turnout/ |work=Balkan Insight |date=22 November 2021}}</ref>

== Executive branch ==
The [[president of Bulgaria]] is directly elected for a 5-year term with the right to one re-election. The president serves as the [[head of state]] and commander in chief of the armed forces. The President's main duties are to schedule elections and referendums, represent Bulgaria abroad, conclude international treaties, and head the Consultative Council for National Security. The President may return legislation to the National Assembly for further debate—a kind of veto—but the legislation can be passed again by an absolute majority vote.

== Legislative branch ==
[[File:Sofia winter (National Assembly) - panoramio.jpg|thumb|The National Assembly]]
The Bulgarian [[unicameral]] [[parliament]], the National Assembly or [[Narodno Sabranie]], consists of 240 deputies who are elected for 4-year-terms by popular vote. The votes are for party or coalition lists of candidates for each of the 28 administrative divisions. A party or coalition must garner a minimum of 4% of the vote in order to enter parliament. Parliament is responsible for enactment of laws, approval of the budget, scheduling of presidential elections, selection and dismissal of the [[prime Minister of Bulgaria|prime minister]] and other ministers, declaration of war, deployment of troops outside of Bulgaria, and ratification of international treaties and agreements.

== Elections ==
{{main|Elections in Bulgaria}}

===Parliamentary elections===
{{main|June 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election}}
{{#section-h:June 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election|Results}}

===Presidential elections===
{{Main|2021 Bulgarian presidential election}}
{{#section-h:2021 Bulgarian presidential election|Results}}

===European elections===
{{Main|2019 European Parliament election in Bulgaria}}
<onlyinclude>{{Election results
|party1=[[GERB—SDS]]|votes1=607194|seats1=6|sc1=0
|party2=[[Bulgarian Socialist Party]]|votes2=474160|seats2=5|sc2=+1
|party3=[[Movement for Rights and Freedoms]]|votes3=323510|seats3=3|sc3=–1
|party4=[[IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement]]|votes4=143830|seats4=2|sc4=+1
|party5=[[Democratic Bulgaria]]|votes5=118484|seats5=1|sc5=+1
|party6=[[Volya Movement]]|votes6=70830|seats6=0|sc6=New
|party7=Patriots for Valeri Simeonov ([[National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria|NFSB]]–[[Middle European Class|SEK]])|votes7=22421|seats7=0|sc7=0
|party10=[[National Movement for Stability and Progress|NDSV]]–New Time|votes10=21315|seats10=0|sc10=0
|party11=[[Attack (political party)|Attack]]|votes11=20906|seats11=0|sc11=0
|party12=[[Revival (Bulgarian political party)|Revival]]|votes12=20319|seats12=0|sc12=New
|party13=[[Alternative for Bulgarian Revival|Coalition for Bulgaria]]|votes13=16759|seats13=0|sc13=0
|party14=[[Democrats for Responsibility, Solidarity and Tolerance]]|votes14=7130|seats14=0|sc14=New
|party15=[[People's Voice (Bulgaria)|People's Voice]]|votes15=6136|seats15=0|sc15=0
|party16=Party of Greens|votes16=6051|seats16=0|sc16=0
|party17=[[Movement 21]]|votes17=4141|seats17=0|sc17=New
|party18=[[Reload Bulgaria]]|votes18=3907|seats18=0|sc18=New
|party19=Together Movement|votes19=3731|seats19=0|sc19=New
|party20=[[Volt Bulgaria|VOLT]]|votes20=3500|seats20=0|sc20=New
|party21=Direct Democracy|votes21=2425|seats21=0|sc21=New
|party22=[[Bulgarian National Unification]]|votes22=2370|seats22=0|sc22=New
|party23=Rise ([[Radical Democratic Party (Bulgaria)|RDP]]–[[United People's Party (Bulgaria)|ENP]]–[[Bulgarian National Front|BNF Chicago]]–[[Union of Free Democrats|SSD]]–BDS R)|votes23=1855|seats23=0|sc23=New
|party24=Independents|votes24=73317|seats24=0|sc24=0
|row25=None of the above|votes25=61029
|invalid=80238
|total_sc=0
|electorate=6378694
|source=[https://results.cik.bg/ep2019/rezultati/index.html CIK]
}}</onlyinclude>

== Judicial branch ==
The Bulgarian judicial system consists of regional, district and appeal courts, as well as a [[Supreme Court of Cassation of Bulgaria|Supreme Court of Cassation]] and one Specialized Criminal Court.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.spcc.bg| title = СПЕЦИАЛИЗИРАН НАКАЗАТЕЛЕН СЪД}}</ref> In addition, there is a [[Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria|Supreme Administrative Court]] and a system of military courts. The Presidents of the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Supreme Administrative Court as well as the [[Attorney general|Prosecutor General]] are elected by a qualified majority of two-thirds from all the members of the Supreme Judicial Council and are appointed by the President of the Republic. The Supreme Judicial Council is in charge of the self-administration and organisation of the Judiciary.

A qualified majority of two-thirds of the membership of the Supreme Judicial Council elects the Presidents of the Supreme Court of Cassation and of the Supreme Administrative Court, as well as the Prosecutor General, from among its members; the President of the Republic then appoints those elected.

The Supreme Judicial Council has charge of the self-administration and organization of the Judiciary.

The [[Constitutional Court of Bulgaria]] supervises the review of the constitutionality of laws and statutes brought before it, as well as the compliance of these laws with international treaties that the Government has signed. Parliament elects the 12 members of the Constitutional Court by a two-thirds majority. The members serve for a nine-year term.

== Administrative divisions ==
{{main|Administrative divisions of Bulgaria}}

The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is divided into [[Provinces of Bulgaria|provinces]] and [[Municipalities of Bulgaria|municipalities]]. In all Bulgaria has 28 provinces, each headed by a [[List of provincial governors in Bulgaria|provincial governor]] appointed by the government. In addition, there are 265 municipalities.

== Other data ==
'''Political pressure groups and leaders:'''
* [[Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria]] or CITUB
* [[Confederation of Labour Podkrepa]]
* numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas

==See also== 
* [[President of Bulgaria]]
* [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria]]
* [[List of prime ministers of Bulgaria]]
* [[List of heads of state of Bulgaria]] 
* [[List of presidents of Bulgaria (1990–present)]]
* [[List of ministries of Bulgaria]]
* [[Foreign relations of Bulgaria]]
* [[Flag of Bulgaria]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Bulgaria topics}}
{{Politics of Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Bulgaria}}
[[Category:Politics of Bulgaria| ]]