Zhan Videnov

On July 1, 1997, Bulgaria implemented a currency board system, known as the "currency board," in response to a severe economic crisis marked by hyperinflation and widespread social unrest. The crisis was precipitated under the government of the Bulgarian Socialist Party led by Zhan Videnov, which prioritized preserving jobs and maintaining state-owned enterprises, neglecting market reforms.

The name of the person who currently keeps social peace in Bulgaria is Ivan Ivanov, head of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission. The snowball, however, has got rolling and cannot be stopped.

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Jean Videnov announced that he is returning to politics, founding a new Left Alternative party, adding that he plans to run in the upcoming early elections with the coalition "For a Clean and Holy Republic", a part of which is the Union of Communists in Bulgaria.

On January 10th, 21 years have passed since the dramatic events before the Bulgarian Parliament, which led to the overthrow of the government of Jan Videnov, reminds Bgnes.

Twenty years have passed since the events of 1997, when on January 10 anti-government demonstrations in Bulgaria grew into a raid of the Parliament headquarters, pushing the socialist cabinet to step down.

Novinite has interviewed H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, who apart from English, German and Portuguese is also fluent in Bulgarian. This is not surprising, since between 1991 and 1995 he worked at the French Embassy in Sofia and is, moreover, married to a Bulgarian.

Bulgarians had only four occasions for optimism since the darkest moments of the transition, shows a survey of the Gallup International agency, presented on the occasion of the 25-th anniversary of the fall of Todor Zhivkov from power.

Bulgaria will hold early general elections between September 28 and October 12, the authorities said, in the hope that a fresh indication of the voter's will will help solve a year-long political crisis in the country.

The government has elected Atanas Paparizov head of Bulgaria's Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Bulgaria's Permanent Mission to the WTO was established in 1996 within the framework of of Permanent Mission of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.