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1 1 (March 13, 2008)

handle is hein.crs/crsaizy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS22247 Updated March 13, 2008 Bulgaria: Current Issues and U.S. Policy Steven Woehrel Specialist in European Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary This short report provides information on Bulgaria's current political and economic situation, and foreign policy. It also discusses U.S. policy toward Bulgaria. This report will be updated as warranted. Political Situation Bulgaria is a parliamentary democracy that has held generally Bulgaria: Basic Facts free and fair elections since the overthrow of the Communist regime Land Area: 110,550 sq. km (slightly larger than in 1989. Bulgaria held its most Tennessee) recent parliamentary elections on June 25, 2005. The winner of the Population: 7.3 million (2007 estimate) vote was a coalition led by the left- of-center Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which received 82 seats in Turkish, 47% Roma (2001 census) the 240-seat National Assembly, Gross Domestic Product: $39.07 billion, 2007 Bulgaria's unicameral parliament. estimate. The National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP), a centrist Source: 2008 CIA, The World Factbook, 2008. group, finished second with 63 seats. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), representing the country's ethnic Turkish minority, won 34 seats. Ataka (Attack!), a group that mixes far-right xenophobia with leftist economic populism, won a surprising 21 seats. Three center-right groups won the remaining seats: the Union of Democratic Forces (20); Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (17); and the Bulgarian National Union Coalition (13). In an effort to boost turnout, the government introduced a lottery in which voters could win televisions, cars, and other prizes. Nevertheless, turnout was only 55%, the lowest since the end of communism.