Dr Zhelyu Zelev’s Election for Chairman/President of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria by the Seventh Grand National Assembly

Authors:

Pages: 170-178

Abstract:

The article examines a number of specific political events and processes, which led to Dr Zhelyu Zhelev’s election, by the Seventh Grand National Assembly (GNA), as Chairman/President of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria. It presents a brief historical overview and analysis of the emergence of a democratic opposition in Bulgaria and the opposition’s subsequent discussions with the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) at the National Round Table. Special attention is paid to debates within the most important anti-communist federation, the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), and its initial nomination of Dr Petar Dertliev for the presidency. The article considers the five voting rounds, which did not result in the election of head of state, as emphasis is laid on the motives and political views of the three candidates for the post. The reasons for the BCP’s unwillingness to support Dr Dertliev’s candidacy and his decision not to run are analysed at considerable length. Attention then focuses on Dr Zhelev’s nomination for the post by the UDF and the sixth round of voting by the Seventh GNA, which led to his election as President. The reasons for the BCP’s decision to support an opposition candidate are discussed as well as “the historic compromise” that was made in electing, for the first time in several decades, a head of state who was nor connected with the Communist Party.

Keywords:

Zhelyu Zhelev, Chairman/President, National Round Table, Seventh Grand National Assembly, historic compromise.

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