Dokument #1192462
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
On 29 November 1990, after weeks of street
protests over food and fuel shortages and increasing pressure from
a general strike, Andrei Lukanov, Bulgaria's Prime Minister,
resigned (The New York Times 30 Nov. 1990, A15; Toronto
Star 30 Nov. 1990) Parliament accepted Lukanov's resignation
and the strike, started by the anti-Communist trade union
Podkrepa, was ended (Reuters 27 Nov. 1990). President
Zhelev stated that parliament would meet to discuss plans to begin
drafting a new constitution.
On 7 December, President Zhelev appointed
Dimiter Popov to head the new caretaker government. Popov was the
head of Sofia's municipal court and had earlier helped to organize
Bulgaria's first free elections (Reuters, 7 Dec. 1990). New
elections are scheduled for May 1991 (please see response to your
info. req. No. BGR7408).
According to the The New York Times
(30 Nov. 1990, A15) experts see the collapse of Lukanov's
government as "yet another step in the disintegration of the
communist party that had governed Bulgaria since WW II" (please see
the attached New York Times 30 Nov. 1990 for further
details).
2.
Petar Beron, leader of Bulgaria's
opposition party, the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), resigned on
4 December admitting that he had worked as a police informer under
the deposed government (The New York Times 5 Dec. 1990,
A13). On 11 December 1990, Philip Dimitrov, vice president of the
Green Party, was elected head of the UDF (Le Devoir 12 Dec.
1990)
3.
According to External Affairs (External
Affairs 1990, 12 Nov. 1990) every Bulgarian has the right to obtain
a passport. Theoretically, exit visas are still required for all
countries except former East Bloc countries and Yugoslavia. The
penalty, as expressed by the telex, for overstaying an exit visa is
a small fine. Also, one should consider the portion of the telex
dealing with the measures reportedly taken by the state regarding
the non-return of property confiscated of those who have overstayed
their visas.
Please find attached External Affairs 1990, 12 Nov. 1990 for
further information on travel/leaving Bulgaria.
"Bulgarian Premier Quits after 2 Weeks
of Protests." The New York Times, 30 November 1990.
"Chaos in Bulgaria Forces PM from
Office." The Toronto Star, 30 November 1990.
"Ex Opposition chief in Bulgaria Admits
Role as Informer." The New York Times, 5 December 1990.
External Affairs 1990, 12 November
1990.
"Judge is Bulgaria's Premier." The
New York Times, 8 December 1990.
"Non-Party Lawyer Picked to Head New
Bulgarian Government." Reuters, 7 December 1990, PM Cycle
(Nexis).
"Nouveau Chef." Le Devoir
[Montreal], 12 December 1990.
"Union Leader Reports Clash with Police
in Bulgaria's strike." Reuters, 27 November 1990, PM Cycle
(Nexis).