garian

Ethnic divisions: Bulgarian 85.3%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%,
Macedonian 2.5%, Armenian 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, other 0.6%

Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman
Catholic 0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian,
and other 0.5%

Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to
ethnic breakdown

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria

Data code: BU

Type of government: emerging democracy

Capital: Sofia

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular -
oblast); Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv,
Ruse, Sofiya, Varna

Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 March (1878)

Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system with Soviet law influence;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zhelyu Mitev ZHELEV (since 1 August 1990,
when he was elected by the National Assembly); president and vice
president elected for five-year terms by popular vote; election last
held NA January 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Zhelyu
ZHELEV elected by popular vote; Vice President (vacant)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime
Minister) Zhan VIDENOV (since 25 January 1995) appointed by the
president; Deputy Prime Ministers Doncho KONAKCHIEV (since 25
January 1995), Atanas PAPAKIZOV (since NA), Rumen GECHEV (since 25
January 1995), Svetoslav SHIVAROV (since 25 January 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Narodno Sobranie): last held 18 December 1994
(next to be held NA 1997); results - BSP 43.5%, UDF 24.2%, PU 6.5%,
MRF 5.4%, BBB 4.7%; seats - (240 total) BSP 125, UDF 69, PU 18, MRF
15, BBB 13

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman appointed for a
seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices
appointed or elected for a nine-year term

Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP),
Zhan VIDENOV, chairman; Union of Democratic Forces (UDF - an
alliance