Freedom in the World 2001 - Bulgaria

2001 Scores

Status: Free
Freedom Rating: 2.5
Civil Liberties: 3
Political Rights: 2

Overview

In 2000, public support for Bulgaria's center-right government dropped considerably as a result of high unemployment, low salaries, poor living standards, and allegations of corruption among some of the highest political officials.

In May, the Bulgarian government survived a no-confidence vote after there were allegations in April that Prime Minister Ivan Kostov had been covering up intelligence reports, accusing ministers of corruption. The motion from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) was voted down 133 to 67 with 16 abstentions. Prime Minister Kostov was being blamed for high unemployment, which in April stood at 19 percent, and deteriorating living standards. The Bulgarian parliament passed a law declaring the former Communist regime from 1944 to 1989 criminal. The government also approved a law that would publicize the income, expenses, and property of senior state officials.

Occupied by the Ottoman Empire from 1396 to 1878, Bulgaria achieved full independence in 1908. Long-standing territorial ambitions led to Bulgaria's alliance with Germany in both world wars before the Soviet invasion in 1944 and subsequent establishment of a Communist-led government. From 1954 until 1989, the country was ruled by Communist Party leader Todor Zhivkov, who resigned in the wake of a mass pro-democracy rally in Sofia and the political changes that were sweeping across Eastern Europe. In the October 1996 presidential election, Peter Stoyanov of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), defeated BSP candidate Ivan Marazov in two rounds of voting. With the exception of a short-lived, UDF-led government elected in 1991, Bulgaria's parliament continued to be dominated by former Communists until 1997.

Sparked by a deepening economic crisis and growing crime and corruption, a week of mass street demonstrations in November 1996 succeeded in forcing the ruling BSP to agree to early parliamentary elections the following year. One month later, Zhan Videnov, prime minister and BSP leader, resigned. In the April 1997 vote for the national assembly, the UDF and its allied factions won 52 percent of the vote and 137 of 240 seats. The BSP captured 58 seats; the Alliance for National Salvation, 19; the Euroleft coalition, 14; and the Bulgarian Business Bloc, 12. UDF leader Ivan Kostov was named prime minister.

Bulgaria continued to make economic reforms, including stabilizing its national currency, privatizing state-owned businesses, and continuing negotiations with the European Union (EU) for membership. The EU issued a report in November, which praised Bulgaria for its privatization process, especially within the banking, health, and pension systems. By December, the EU agreed to lift visa restrictions for Bulgaria.

The World Bank approved a $50 million loan to help Bulgaria meet environmental standards set by the EU as well as a $63.3 million loan for a program that will revamp the health sector. The sale of Bulbank, the largest state-owned bank, for 360 million euros, represents Bulgaria's largest privatization operation. Foreign investment has increased in 2000. Since 1992, foreign investment has reached $3.5 billion to $800 million in 2000 alone. In August, under pressure from the EU, Bulgaria agreed to shut down four reactors at the Kozlodui nuclear plant, considered to be one of Europe's most dangerous installations, as yet another condition for membership.

After last year's war in Kosovo, which destroyed many of Bulgaria's trade routes to central and western Europe, Bulgaria agreed to finance and construct a $120 million bridge over the Danube River. After opposing NATO's request last year to use Bulgaria's airspace during its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) announced a change of policy, supporting Bulgaria's push for NATO membership.

In March, Bulgaria was accused of violating the 1993 United Nations sanctions against Angola, by selling arms to UNITA, the rebellion forces in Angola as well as Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds. The UN does, however, recognize that Bulgaria has taken steps to tighten control over illegal arms sales. The sale of arms could, however, seriously jeopardize Bulgaria's membership negotiations with the EU.

Six Bulgarian medical workers accused of infecting 398 children in a Libyan hospital with the HIV virus are awaiting trial in Libya. The punishment is the death penalty.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Bulgarians can change their government democratically. The president is elected for a five-year term, and the unicameral national assembly, composed of 240 members, is elected every four years. The 1996 presidential, 1997 parliamentary, and 1999 local elections were regarded as free and fair by international election observers.

The constitution guarantees freedom of the press. There were no reports of harassment against journalists in 2000. Some positive reforms included the launch of a nationwide program in the Turkish language by the Bulgarian state television; a proposal by the government to establish a Balkan Media Academy in Sofia to train journalists to work for independent media in the Balkan region; and the establishment of the first private broadcast TV operator, Rupert Murdoch's Balkan News Corporation, with nationwide coverage. In January, the Parliament approved a reform on its press law, which eliminated jail sentences for libel.

The constitution permits the formation of trade unions, and the 1992 Labor Code recognizes the right to strike and bargain collectively. Bulgaria's two largest unions are the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CITUB), a successor to the Communist-era union, and Podkrepa, an independent federation established in 1989. Estimates of the country's unionized workforce range from 30 to 50 percent, although this number is decreasing as large enterprises lay off workers and many new positions are created in smaller, non-union businesses. The constitution does, however, forbid the formation of political parties along religious, ethnic, or racial lines. In February, the constitutional court declared the United Macedonians Organization (Ilinden-PIRIN) party unconstitutional, violating their members' right to associate.

While freedom of worship is generally respected, the government restricts this right for some non-Orthodox religious groups. Organizations whose activities have a religious element are required by law to register with the council of ministers. Some groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, have endured harassment and interference in their activities before or in the absence of registration. In January, six Turkish nationals were extradited from Bulgaria, accused of having conducted illegal clerical activity. In an effort to comply with NATO standards, parliament reduced the length of mandatory military service to a six-month period. In 1998, the government passed an alternative civilian service law; however, conscientious objectors are required to commit double the time of military service.

The judiciary is legally guaranteed independence and equal status with the executive and legislative branches of government. However, corruption, inadequate staffing, and low salaries continue to hamper the system. The EU report issued in November stated that there have been no improvements in the judicial system and it still remains weak. Pretrial detention facilities continue to be inhumane, overcrowded, and without adequate medical services. Excessive physical force and discrimination by law enforcement officials towards the Roma (Gypsy) population remains a serious problem.

Freedom of movement within the country and emigration rights are generally respected. Private property rights are formally protected, although corruption, organized crime, and government control of significant sectors of the economy impede competition and equality of opportunity.

Women are underrepresented in government and politics, less than 11 percent hold seats in parliament, although several do hold elective or appointive offices at high levels. According to a survey conducted by the Noema polling agency in June, one quarter of the women in Bulgaria are victims of domestic violence and two-thirds of those never seek help. Trafficking of women for prostitution remains a serious problem.