Document #1199261
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to a representative of the
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (LCHR) in New York, the
Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), in alliance with the Movement for
Rights and Freedom (MRF), still forms a majority in the Bulgarian
parliament (14 Jan. 1994). The representative also indicated that
although the influence of former communists is rising, Bulgaria is
unlikely to return to the old communist system with its rigid
security apparatus based on repression of dissent (ibid.). However,
problems of job discrimination and corruption could recur (ibid.).
The representative also stated that former communist officials are
resurfacing as capitalists associated with foreign firms interested
in doing business in Bulgaria (ibid.). For further information on
the current influence of the Bulgarian Socialist Party in
government and on its possible return to power, please consult the
attached documents.
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to
be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee
status or asylum.
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
(LCHR), New York. 14 January 1994. Telephone interview with
representative.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 15
December 1993. "United Communist Party Founded at Unification
Congress." (NEXIS)
. 1 December 1993. "Poll Shows People
Disenchanted with Politics, BSP More Popular than MRF." (NEXIS)
. 20 November 1993. "Government Survives
No-Confidence Motion." (NEXIS)
. 8 November 1993. "Zhelev Reportedly
Tells Berov to Resign." (NEXIS)
. 28 September 1993. "BSP Leaders Reject
"Recommunization" Charge." (NEXIS)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 9 September
1993. Senthil Ratnasabapathy. "Bulgaria: Disgruntled Population
Harks Back to Communist Past." (NEXIS)
. 13 May 1993. Criselda Yabes.
"Bulgaria: The Road to Democracy Has So Far Been Rough and Rocky."
(NEXIS)
The Ottawa Citizen. 28 October
1993. Final Edition. Kitty McKinsey. "Bulgaria: Communists See
Power as Possibility." (NEXIS)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
Research Institute. 21 May 1993. RFE/RL Research Report
[Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 21. Kjell Engelbrekt. "Bulgaria's Communists:
Coming or Going?" pp. 37-41.