Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

34 years since the start of Bulgaria’s transition to democracy

Photo: archive

On this day in 1989, the November plenum of the Central Committee (CC) of the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) accepted the resignation of Todor Zhivkov as Secretary General of the CC of the BCP, after ruling the country for 35 years.

The demand for his resignation was organized by the member of BCP Politburo Petar Mladenov and Politburo candidate-member Andrey Lukanov, as a repercussion of Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika in the USSR. At the plenum, the CC members accepted Zhivkov’s resignation and put Petar Mladenov in his place as BCP Secretary General. The news quickly spread, and a few days later, tens of thousands of people came out into the streets for the first free political rally.

This date marks the start of the transition of Bulgaria to democracy and a market economy. Surveys from that time show that Bulgarians’ then expected the process of transition to take no more than 10 years. In practice, however it took decades.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian Judges Association raises concern over new antivirus software

Judges have opposed the introduction of a new antivirus agent on their computers. The magistrates fear that it could violate personal data protection rules and compromise the independence of the judiciary. In an official letter, the Bulgarian..

published on 11/26/25 12:21 PM

Boyko Borisov: Bulgaria will join the eurozone on January 1 despite protests

GERB leader Boyko Borisov said in Parliament that Bulgaria will become a member of the eurozone on January 1, regardless of protests organized by representatives of We Continue the Change Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB). He was commenting on opposition..

published on 11/26/25 11:06 AM

Bulgaria at risk of non compliance with the EU's fiscal framework in 2026

Six countries, including Bulgaria, are at risk of non compliance with the EU fiscal framework in 2026. This is highlighted in the 2026 European Semester Autumn Package, adopted by the European Commission. Another 12 countries are urged to continue..

published on 11/26/25 10:06 AM