What is the political climate of Bulgaria?
Part of the Ottoman empire for around 500 years and then a satellite of the former Soviet Union for nearly half a century, Bulgaria succeeded in integrating into western alliances when it became a NATO member in March 2004. November 10, 1989 marked the beginning of the democratic changes in Bulgaria. In 1990 Zhelyu Zhelev became the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria. In 1991 a new constitution was adopted, the political parties were restored, and privatisation and restitution of the land started. Bulgaria joined the EU on January 1, 2007.
