After restoring the national state-hood in 1878, Bulgaria was a constitutional monarchy with a democratic government and a quickly developing economy. The processes of successful growth were discontinued in result of the wars of King Ferdinand I waged against Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, and Romania at the same time, which led to the catastrophes of 1913 and of 1918 (warring against the Entente countries).
1923 and 1934 – democratically elected governments were toppled via coups d’Etat, which brought to power authoritarian regimes.
1941 – Bulgaria entered World War II on the side of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis. Bulgaria was the only ally of Hitler’s Germany, which did not allow the killing of its Jewish citizens. Thanks to King Boris III and to the Bulgarian governments no hostilities were waged on this country’s territory.
1944 – After Word War II, as a result of the Yalta agreements between the Great Powers, Bulgaria chanced in the field of influence of the Soviet Union.
1946 – Bulgaria was proclaimed for People`s Republic, the monarchy was abolished. The last king Simeon II and his family were expelled from Bulgaria.
1954-1989 – years of the communist rule of Todor Zhivkov who headed both the party and the state.
10 November 1989 – under the pressure of domestic and international circumstances Todor Zhivkov was forced to resign. Bulgaria once again embarked on the road of democratic development.
10-17 June 1990 – first free parliamentary elections.
12 July 1991 – a new democratic Constitution was passed.
Bulgaria started on the road of genuine democratic reforms.
December 2002 – Bulgaria was invited to join the NATO and to become a full member of the European Union by 2007.
April 2004 – Bulgaria became a member of NATO.
January 2007 - Bulgaria became a member of European Union.
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