site.btaBulgaria Marks 35 Years Since Pivotal Roundtable Talks that Paved Its Way to Democracy

An event at the NDK Convention Centre Thursday marks the 35th anniversary of the National Roundtable Talks of 1990 where government and opposition charted the way forward to democracy and market economy in Bulgaria after long decades of totalitarianism and command economy. The Roundtable was instrumental in guiding this country through a peaceful transition to democracy, laying the foundation for significant political and economic reforms in the years that followed.

The commemorative event took place in Hall 6 of NDK – the same one where the first Roundtable was held. Among the attendees were Petko Simeonov, Petar Beron, Alexander Karakachanov, Alexander Yordanov, Georgi Pirinski, Emilia Maslarova, Mikhail Nedelchev, Volen Siderov, Lyubomir Pavlov and Alexander Tomov. With a minute of silence, the attendees honored the memory of their colleagues who have passed away over the 35-year period. The participants heard an address sent to the event by Nataliya Kiselova, Chairperson of the National Assembly.

Below are some takeaways from the participants' assessment of the role of the Roundtable talks:

Nataliya Kiselova: The Roundtable was not a place for empty talk, but a forum that achieved concrete political results for the development of Bulgaria’s democratic process. The agreements enabled free expression, a free election campaign, and the democratic use of media. The Roundtable agreements were respected by both sides, driven by the shared conviction that the nation needed to follow a common democratic path. The Roundtable will be remembered as an event that set the framework for decades ahead in building democratic life in the country.

Petko Simeonov (participated in the Roundtable as a representative of the Union of Democratic Forces): This year marks not only the 35th anniversary of the Roundtable but also of the first free elections since 1932, the formation of a real multiparty parliament, local government with multiple parties, and a free press. Young people must understand that democracy is a process of continuous building - it is neither a gift nor a given. By the first round of elections for a Grand National Assembly, the country had undergone a stunning political transformation. We were both joyful and in stress. It felt like bungee jumping, and no one knew if the cord would snap. The Roundtable was the central event that defined the contents of the Constitution that followed and set the tone for political relations that made possible the formation of Dimitar Popov’s coalition government. It was an assembly recognized by citizens as the real Bulgarian parliament. There are events on the Bulgarian political calendar that must not be overlooked, if only because they teach lessons.

Georgi Pirinski (of what was then the Bulgarian Communist Party): "Over the years, many claims and interpretations have emerged regarding the nature of the Roundtable. Some questioned whether it was a constructive institution or a political circus. BSP became a co-organizer out of an understanding of the need for national consensus to emerge from the crisis the country was in. The Roundtable brought together social forces in the country, united by common ideas for a peaceful transition from a totalitarian to a democratic system. It became a guarantor of the irreversibility of the democratic process, achieving concrete agreements to solve key economic and social issues. The majority secured at the Grand National Assembly made it possible to draft a new Constitution for Bulgaria - one that defines modern Bulgaria as a democratic state with rule of law.

Petar Beron (participated as representative of Union of Democratic Forces): At the Roundtable, the Socialists didn’t actually agree to everything, because what was then the Communist Party had been an agent of the Soviet Union for many decades. What happened was that they gave in under the pressure of the people.

Emilia Maslarova (of what was then the Bulgarian Communist Party): I’ve known all along - especially now - that we were writing history, and we must not allow it to be rewritten. Time has taught us to be wise, calm, and honest about what happened. The lesson from that time is that despite the tension, the extreme division, and to a large extent the hatred, there was wisdom, tolerance, and a desire to lead Bulgaria onto a new path. And I hope we succeeded.

Mikhail Nedelchev (Union of Democratic Forces): At that Roundtable, we stood face to face with our political opponents, but on equal footing and fully engaged. He spoke about the live broadcasts of the sessions, how people greeted the negotiators afterward, and more. According to him, society was learning about political pluralism and receiving political lessons that had been long forgotten.

Dimitar Yonchev (participated as a representative of the Bulgarian Communist Party): Neither what we tore down was the absolute evil, nor what we built was the absolute good. But there is something very important - the best thing we did was that our country still exists.

Alexander Yordanov: The great significance of the Roundtable lies in the opportunity - before the historical change - for the transition to be dreamed of, to be spoken out loud, to reach an agreement on the most important things that needed to happen to us as a people and that we needed to accomplish. At the Roundtable, a different Bulgaria was emerging - one of democracy and freedom. And back then, the young Bulgarian opposition truly achieved what had seemed unthinkable for the previous 45 years: it forced the ruling Communist Party to step back from its position of power.

Lyubomir Pavlov: We never imagined that even a single person would be hurt during the transition. The Roundtable was a civilized way to reach the first free elections since 1932.

Alexander Tomov: You are all participants and creators in a great historical process. The Roundtable led to the government of Dimitar Popov, to free prices, a free market, the dissolution of the Comecon (CMEA) and the Warsaw Pact, and the drafting of the Constitution. The consensus at the beginning of the transition led to a peaceful Bulgaria.

The participants commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Roundtable agreed that one of its greatest achievements was ensuring a peaceful transition in this country.

The roundtable started on January 16, shortly after fall of Communist leader Todor Zhivkov and ended with signature of a set of agreements on May 14. It opened in the wake of a large prodemocracy demonstration and included the communist party, the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union and unaffiliated representatives.

Some important decisions were made:

• Abolition of Article 1 of the Bulgarian Constitution, which had enshrined the leading role of the Bulgarian Communist Party in the country. Its removal was a crucial step toward political pluralism;
• Establishment of the Presidential Institution. It introduced a new head of state role, embodying the unity of the nation;
• Depoliticization of state institutions: The military, police, judiciary, and diplomatic services were depoliticized to ensure their independence from political party influence;
• Dissolution of the 6th Department of State Security Service (the political police);
• Preparation for free elections.

The documents signed on March 12 included an agreement on the political system; a national agreement to guarantee a peaceful transition to a democratic political system and a declaration on the role and status of the National Roundtable.

On March 30, three agreements were signed which provided for the abolition of the institution of the State Council, for the election of the head of state by the National Assembly, and for the two rounds of elections for a Grand National Assembly to be held on June 10 and 17, 1990. An agreement was reached on the main principles in a Political Parties Bill and a bill on the election of a Grand National Assembly.

On May 14, 1990, the final session of the National Roundtable was held at the National Palace of Culture (NDK), chaired by Alexander Lilov. Four agreements were signed: on guarantees for the conduct of free elections; an Ethical Code of the election campaign; on the basic provisions of the status of Bulgarian Television and Bulgarian Radio; and agreement on the election campaign on radio and television.