Electoral Shifts and Social Unrest
In June 1990, the Bulgarian Socialist Party secured victory in the Grand National Assembly elections, surprising urban areas where expectations had favored other parties. The mass discontent in major cities, fueled by trade union pressures, led to spontaneous forms of protest, including rallies, "tent settlements," strikes, and student sit-ins. Amid these expressions of political dissatisfaction, a notable development was the emergence of the Rights and Freedoms Movement (RFM), a political organization representing ethnic Turks. However, the party's future existence faced contradictions with the newly adopted Constitution in July 1991. President Petar Mladenov's resignation in the fall of 1990 marked a turning point, with Zhelyo Zhelev succeeding him. Prime Minister Andrei Loukanov, who led a second Socialist government, also resigned in November 1990.
The Challenge of Coalition Governance
To honor the agreement of a "peaceful transition" established at the round table, the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) formed a joint government. Led by neutral lawyer Dimitar Popov, the new cabinet aimed to address the crises that unfolded during Loukanov's rule. Popov's memorable response to concerns about the impact of price liberalization on February 1, 1991, became a historical phrase: "For God's sake Guided Turkey Tours , brothers, do not buy!"
In October 1991, the UDF narrowly won parliamentary elections, and Filip Dimitrov, its leader, became the head of the first "blue" government, initially supported by the Turkish RFM. Despite high hopes, the consequences were dire, with agriculture in ruins, decreased production, societal divisions, including within the Orthodox Church, and strained international relations. Zhelyo Zhelev was elected president in January 1992, but both he and the cabinet struggled to consolidate support for the "Blue idea" and quell growing indignation. The first "blue" government eventually resigned in October 1992 when the Turkish ethnic party RFM withdrew its parliamentary support from the UDF.
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