site.btaOne in Three Bulgarians Would Rather Live under Communist Leader Zhivkov

According to a survey by the National Centre for Parliamentary Research (NCPR) published on the website of the National Assembly, every third interviewee or 32.6% said they would prefer to live under the governance of former Communist leader Todor Zhivkov and 28.1% - during the times after 1989.

The survey was conducted between June 6 and 20 2023 and is representative of the Bulgarian adult population. A total of 1,000 Bulgarian adults were interviewed using the semi-standardized face-to-face interview method, respondents were interviewed in their homes. The NCPR survey was carried out using comparable registration and sampling methodologies and the results of the survey are comparable to the data from the Centre's surveys conducted since 1999.

Supporters of the period of Todor Zhivkov's rule are 53% of respondents over 59 years of age, 60% of low-educated respondents, 57% of the extremely poor, 40% of village residents, 36% of small town residents. The highest degree of nostalgia for those years is declared mainly by respondents with strong national-patriotic attitudes, the Center said.

Those who prefer to live in the times of democracy after 1989 are most often: people aged between 30 and 39, highly educated respondents, residents of the capital and cities - regional centers, respondents with a standard of living higher than the national average.

National Consciousness and Pride

Data shows that the majority of adult Bulgarian citizens (87%) believe that national consciousness can be formed in young people via education.

Bulgarian history evokes the utmost national pride, cited by 84% of the respondents. In Bulgaria, almost all respondents are proud of national history, defining themselves as "patriots" (92% of them), intolerant of criticism of Bulgaria and considering the preservation of Bulgarian culture and traditions extremely important, the Center noted.

82% of adult Bulgarian citizens are proud of Bulgarian culture and traditions, while 73% of the respondents consider Bulgarian literature and art as a source of pride. For 69% consider the country's sport achievements as such a source. Bulgaria's scientific and technological achievements evoke pride among almost half of the respondents. More than two thirds of the people who believe that the low quality of life in the country has a negative impact on the preservation of the national identity indicate that they are not proud of the Bulgarian social system and economy.

According to 53.3%, the preservation of Bulgarian identity is threatened mostly by the emigration of young people, according to 47.6% - by the unsatisfactory living conditions in Bulgaria. 30.4% of respondents believe that the massive penetration of Western culture is a threat to Bulgarian identity. According to 30.3% the gravest threat is the rejection of Bulgarian traditions and customs and 15.3% see the penetration of foreign religions as such a threat.

On Bulgarian origin

The Center points out that in 2023, pride in Bulgarian origin prevails as an emotion among the adult population of the country. 86% of those interviewed are proud to be Bulgarian, according to the data.

Among the reasons that evoke pride in Bulgarian origin are three - Bulgarian history, Bulgarian nature and Bulgarian traditions. The intangible heritage of Bulgaria is a source of pride for the people who said that the preservation of Bulgarian culture and traditions is of paramount importance for Bulgaria.

Among the main reasons for shame are Bulgarian politicians, low living standards, widespread poverty, bad state governance and corruption.

35% of adult Bulgarian citizens believe they have no reason to be ashamed of their Bulgarian origin.

Reasons for pride

In response to an open-ended question, respondents indicated three main moments in Bulgarian history that, in their opinion, are a reason for national pride - the establishment of the Bulgarian state (40%), the creation of the Slavonic alphabet by the brothers Cyril and Methodius (37%) and the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule, which took place with the signing of the peace treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire on March 3 1878 (36%).

Asked which events in Bulgarian history arouse their greatest disappointment, respondents listed the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule (12.4%), the transition after 1989 (10.8%), and the Communist regime (5.4%).

Important events and personalities

According to respondents, the most important events that have taken place in Bulgaria since 1989 are Bulgaria's accession to the European Union (39%), to NATO (16%) and the transition in Bulgaria after 1989 (10%).

In response to the open question "Which personalities in Bulgarian history have contributed most to the development of Bulgaria?", the adult Bulgarian citizens put Bulgarian revolutionaries Vasil Levski (39%) and Hristo Botev (28%).