{"version":2,"locale":"en","id":"story.democracy-1989","hasFind":true,"slug":"democracy-1989","url":"/en/stories/democracy-1989/","topic":"10 November 1989","title":"10 November: who changes the rules?","summary":"A water petition, a change of party leader, negotiations and elections. The story follows events from 1989 to the constitution of 1991.","cover":{"title":"10 November: who changes the rules?","subtitle":"From the Ecoglasnost petition to the constitution of 1991","hook":"How did power change in 1989–1991?","summary":"A water petition, a change of party leader, negotiations and elections. The story follows events from 1989 to the constitution of 1991.","takeaway":"In this story, we distinguish replacing the leader from changing the rules."},"sortYear":1989,"firstActivity":7,"epoch":{"id":"epoch.xx","styleId":"xx","sortOrder":0,"title":"20th century","dateLabel":"1901–2000","eraShort":"20th century","slug":"xx","fill":"#CFC9C4","ink":"#221616","raised":"#D6D1CD","dark":"#64615F"},"epochId":"epoch.xx","placeShort":"Sofia","date":"1989–1991","image":{"alpha":true,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-bell-cutout-480.b48135fe.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-bell-cutout-960.b48135fe.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-bell-cutout-1600.b48135fe.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#8d7a6d","h":2259,"w":2214,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-bell-cutout-960.b48135fe.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-dem-bell-cutout-960.b48135fe.webp","id":"asset.dem.bell-cutout","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. A metal bell on a decorated base behind glass.","objectCaption":"Museum bell","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Biser Todorov · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Biser Todorov; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0. A museum photograph of a parliamentary bell. The photograph’s catalogue associates it with the declaration of the people’s republic in 1946. Its use at the adoption of the constitution in 1991 has not been established. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Biser Todorov; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0. A museum photograph of a parliamentary bell. The photograph’s catalogue associates it with the declaration of the people’s republic in 1946. Its use at the adoption of the constitution in 1991 has not been established. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bell_of_bulgarian_parlament_1946.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"},"scenes":[{"id":"democracy-1989.s1-signatures","number":1,"kind":"narrative","title":"Signatures for water","body":"In autumn 1989, people in Sofia signed sheets of paper. Ecoglasnost, an independent group protecting nature, collected a petition. It opposed plans to take water from the Rila mountains to other places. A petition is a shared written request to those in power.\n\nPeople collected signatures publicly in Kristal garden. On 26 October, the militia, the police of that time, beat and detained participants. Violence had already claimed lives. In May, protests by Bulgarian Turks had been suppressed by force, and people had been killed.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-parliament-480.44626f9e.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-parliament-960.44626f9e.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-parliament-1600.44626f9e.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#6d7e8a","h":767,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-parliament-960.44626f9e.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-dem-parliament-960.44626f9e.webp","id":"asset.dem.parliament","alt":"The light-coloured facade of the National Assembly in Sofia.","objectCaption":"The light-coloured facade of the National Assembly in Sofia.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Лорд Бъмбъри · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Лорд Бъмбъри; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0. The National Assembly building in Sofia, 2 October 2016. A later view of the building, not evidence of its appearance or the people outside it in 1989. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Лорд Бъмбъри; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0. The National Assembly building in Sofia, 2 October 2016. A later view of the building, not evidence of its appearance or the people outside it in 1989. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Assembly_main_building,_Sofia,_October_2016_02.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":36.18004166666667,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.democracy-1989.democracy-1989.s1-signatures","duration":36.309,"src":"/audio/en/democracy-1989/s1-signatures.a9b5093f.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.dem.eko1989"},{"id":"src.dem.dineva2019"}]},{"id":"democracy-1989.s2-petition","number":2,"kind":"map","title":"3 November: the papers reach parliament","body":"On 3 November 1989, a march in Sofia submitted the petition to the National Assembly, Bulgaria’s parliament. People wanted their concerns about water and nature heard.\n\nIn our view, the petition also demanded a say for citizens in decisions. This is an interpretation, not a quotation. Parliament marks where the request arrived. The other map point is Boyana, a building complex used by state leaders. A week later, the party leadership met there. These were different places and actions.","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[{"note":"On 3 November 1989, a march delivered the Ekoglasnost petition to the National Assembly.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.dem.parliament","name":"National Assembly, historic building","latitude":42.694444444444,"longitude":23.332777777778,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":70,"sourceIds":["src.dem.coordinates","src.dem.eko1989"],"guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/place/#bulgaria-national-assembly-building","slug":"dem.parliament","url":"/en/map/#dem.parliament"},{"note":"A building complex used by state leaders. The point is approximate and does not locate the meeting room.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.dem.boyana","name":"Boyana complex","latitude":42.655278,"longitude":23.2675,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":700,"sourceIds":["src.dem.coordinates","src.dem.bnt2019"],"guideUrl":null,"slug":"dem.boyana","url":"/en/map/#dem.boyana"}],"map":{"light":{"src":"/assets/maps/relief@3x.jpg?v=075869a7dd","w":3072,"h":1987,"avif":[],"webp":[],"responsive":[{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-2x-1024.4c826249.avif","w":1024},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-3x-1536.8876519a.avif","w":1536},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-2x-2048.4c826249.avif","w":2048},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-3x-3072.8876519a.avif","w":3072}]},"dark":{"src":"/assets/maps/relief-dark@3x.jpg?v=0941a59d06","w":3072,"h":1987,"avif":[],"webp":[],"responsive":[{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-dark-2x-1024.73ab39a9.avif","w":1024},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-dark-3x-1536.4f3ca147.avif","w":1536},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-dark-2x-2048.73ab39a9.avif","w":2048},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-dark-3x-3072.4f3ca147.avif","w":3072}]},"places":[{"note":"On 3 November 1989, a march delivered the Ekoglasnost petition to the National Assembly.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.dem.parliament","name":"National Assembly, historic building","latitude":42.694444444444,"longitude":23.332777777778,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":70,"sourceIds":["src.dem.coordinates","src.dem.eko1989"],"guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/place/#bulgaria-national-assembly-building","slug":"dem.parliament","url":"/en/map/#dem.parliament","number":1,"x":22.90972,"y":50.91146,"inside":true,"viewX":28.378491870967743,"viewY":49.3399506483871},{"note":"A building complex used by state leaders. The point is approximate and does not locate the meeting room.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.dem.boyana","name":"Boyana complex","latitude":42.655278,"longitude":23.2675,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":700,"sourceIds":["src.dem.coordinates","src.dem.bnt2019"],"guideUrl":null,"slug":"dem.boyana","url":"/en/map/#dem.boyana","number":2,"x":22.09375,"y":51.94123,"inside":true,"viewX":37.37849187096774,"viewY":55.3399506483871}],"extent":[0,0,1,1],"orientation":[{"name":"Sofia","kind":"town","x":22.774,"y":50.826,"viewX":28.210374193548386,"viewY":49.2303964419355},{"name":"Plovdiv","kind":"town","x":40.566,"y":65.549,"viewX":50.24949677419356,"viewY":68.10433257096776},{"name":"Varna","kind":"town","x":80.184,"y":37.187,"viewX":99.32469677419355,"viewY":31.746078377419355},{"name":"Burgas","kind":"town","x":74.532,"y":55.892,"viewX":92.32350967741935,"viewY":55.724681603225825},{"name":"Ruse","kind":"town","x":55.821,"y":20.617,"viewX":69.14601290322581,"viewY":10.50440740967742},{"name":"Veliko Tarnovo","kind":"town","x":51.465,"y":40.853,"viewX":63.7501935483871,"viewY":36.445653861290324},{"name":"Pleven","kind":"town","x":38.834,"y":31.796,"viewX":48.104051612903234,"viewY":24.835164183870972},{"name":"Stara Zagora","kind":"town","x":51.681,"y":57.962,"viewX":64.01775483870968,"viewY":58.37828805483872},{"name":"Shumen","kind":"town","x":67.951,"y":35.671,"viewX":84.17156129032259,"viewY":29.802664183870963},{"name":"Vidin","kind":"town","x":17.099,"y":16.308,"viewX":21.18069677419355,"viewY":4.980547409677417},{"name":"Blagoevgrad","kind":"town","x":19.929,"y":68.531,"viewX":24.686245161290323,"viewY":71.927064183871},{"name":"Haskovo","kind":"town","x":50.694,"y":70.78,"viewX":62.79514838709679,"viewY":74.81013708709679},{"name":"Smolyan","kind":"town","x":40.014,"y":80.031,"viewX":49.56572903225807,"viewY":86.66932224838712},{"name":"Sliven","kind":"town","x":60.286,"y":51.247,"viewX":74.67685161290323,"viewY":49.77009128064516},{"name":"Dobrich","kind":"town","x":79.091,"y":27.65,"viewX":97.97078709677419,"viewY":19.520259667741932},{"name":"Pernik","kind":"town","x":19.223,"y":53.257,"viewX":23.811716129032256,"viewY":52.346781603225814},{"name":"Yambol","kind":"town","x":62.544,"y":56.432,"viewX":77.47385806451614,"viewY":56.41692676451614},{"name":"Pazardzhik","kind":"town","x":35.42,"y":64.052,"viewX":43.87509677419355,"viewY":66.18527515161293},{"name":"Vratsa","kind":"town","x":25.661,"y":37.29,"viewX":31.786529032258066,"viewY":31.878117732258065},{"name":"Gabrovo","kind":"town","x":47.734,"y":46.177,"viewX":59.12856774193549,"viewY":43.270678377419365},{"name":"Kardzhali","kind":"town","x":48.471,"y":78.573,"viewX":60.04149677419355,"viewY":84.80026031290323},{"name":"Kyustendil","kind":"town","x":14.889,"y":61.673,"viewX":18.443148387096777,"viewY":63.13555063548388},{"name":"Montana","kind":"town","x":21.563,"y":31.916,"viewX":26.710296774193548,"viewY":24.988996441935484},{"name":"Lovech","kind":"town","x":40.178,"y":39.23,"viewX":49.76887741935484,"viewY":34.36507257096774},{"name":"Silistra","kind":"town","x":72.008,"y":13.056,"viewX":89.1970064516129,"viewY":0.8116932161290262},{"name":"Targovishte","kind":"town","x":63.402,"y":36.202,"viewX":78.53667096774194,"viewY":30.48337192580646},{"name":"Razgrad","kind":"town","x":62.709,"y":28.698,"viewX":77.67824516129032,"viewY":20.863728054838713},{"name":"Kazanlak","kind":"town","x":48.661,"y":52.884,"viewX":60.27685161290323,"viewY":51.86861966774193},{"name":"Danube","kind":"nature","x":46.384,"y":23.924,"viewX":57.45630967741936,"viewY":14.74376805483871},{"name":"Black Sea","kind":"nature","x":86.25,"y":45.496,"viewX":106.83870967741937,"viewY":42.39768031290323},{"name":"Balkan Mountains","kind":"nature","x":41.25,"y":49.45,"viewX":51.09677419354839,"viewY":47.46645321612905},{"name":"Rila","kind":"nature","x":25.625,"y":65.69,"viewX":31.741935483870964,"viewY":68.28508547419355},{"name":"Pirin","kind":"nature","x":24.125,"y":75.565,"viewX":29.883870967741938,"viewY":80.94419837741937},{"name":"Rhodope Mountains","kind":"nature","x":38.75,"y":79.447,"viewX":48.00000000000001,"viewY":85.92067192580647},{"name":"Strandzha","kind":"nature","x":76.25,"y":67.774,"viewX":94.45161290322581,"viewY":70.95663902258066}],"crop":{"sx":0.8072916666666666,"sy":0.7800704579768494,"x":0,"y":0.12422822101157527},"credit":{"id":"map-relief"}},"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":32.743458333333336,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.democracy-1989.democracy-1989.s2-petition","duration":32.853,"src":"/audio/en/democracy-1989/s2-petition.79b59b0d.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.dem.eko1989"},{"id":"src.dem.bnt2019"}]},{"id":"democracy-1989.s3-party-change","number":3,"kind":"narrative","title":"10 November: a new party leader","body":"On 10 November 1989, the Central Committee accepted Todor Zhivkov’s resignation. This was the Bulgarian Communist Party’s governing body. Zhivkov left the post of general secretary, the party’s highest office. A new party leader was chosen.\n\nThe ruling party made this decision. Citizens did not elect the leader. Zhivkov lost his party office on the tenth, then his role as head of state on 17 November. In our view, replacing the leader alone did not change the rules of government.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhivkov-480.051ea1bc.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhivkov-960.051ea1bc.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhivkov-1600.051ea1bc.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#8f8f8f","h":1223,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhivkov-960.051ea1bc.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhivkov-960.051ea1bc.webp","id":"asset.dem.zhivkov","alt":"Black-and-white photograph of Zhivkov wearing glasses at a microphone.","objectCaption":"Black-and-white photograph of Zhivkov wearing glasses at a microphone.","caption":"","kindLabel":"Photo","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Unknown photographer / Anefo · CC0 · Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC0","attribution":"Archival photograph. Photo: Unknown photographer / Anefo; Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons; CC0. Todor Zhivkov in an archival photograph from 1971. The photograph does not show the party meeting of 1989. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Archival photograph. Photo: Unknown photographer / Anefo; Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons; CC0. Todor Zhivkov in an archival photograph from 1971. The photograph does not show the party meeting of 1989. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Todor_Zhivkov_,_eerste_secretaris_Communistische_Partij_en_president_van_Bulgari,_Bestanddeelnr_924-8077.jpg","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":30.839416666666665,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.democracy-1989.democracy-1989.s3-party-change","duration":30.933,"src":"/audio/en/democracy-1989/s3-party-change.8bcaecc9.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.dem.dineva2019"},{"id":"src.dem.bnt2019"},{"id":"src.dem.mihaylova2022"},{"id":"src.dem.gazette1991"}]},{"id":"democracy-1989.s4-round-table","number":4,"kind":"narrative","title":"Negotiators promise to avoid violence","body":"On 3 January 1990, preparatory talks for the National Round Table began. These were negotiations between the ruling party and organisations seeking changes in government. Their joint meetings began on 22 January.\n\nOn 12 March, participants promised not to use violence and to seek agreement through dialogue. The promise shows how they wanted to act. It does not prove that violence had disappeared.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhelev-480.ce685995.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhelev-960.ce685995.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhelev-1600.ce685995.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#293239","h":1073,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhelev-960.ce685995.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-dem-zhelev-960.ce685995.webp","id":"asset.dem.zhelev","alt":"Zhelyu Zhelev on the left and Jacques Santer against blue with yellow stars.","objectCaption":"Zhelyu Zhelev on the left and Jacques Santer against blue with yellow stars.","caption":"","kindLabel":"Photo","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Patrick Bombaert - European Commission · CC BY 4.0 · European Commission / Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY 4.0","attribution":"Archival photograph. Photo: Patrick Bombaert - European Commission; European Commission / Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0. Zhelyu Zhelev on the left with Jacques Santer, 26 March 1996. This is a later photograph of a Round Table participant, not a photograph of the negotiations. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Archival photograph. Photo: Patrick Bombaert - European Commission; European Commission / Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0. Zhelyu Zhelev on the left with Jacques Santer, 26 March 1996. This is a later photograph of a Round Table participant, not a photograph of the negotiations. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zhelev,_Santer_1996.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":27.4145,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.democracy-1989.democracy-1989.s4-round-table","duration":27.52,"src":"/audio/en/democracy-1989/s4-round-table.2ef201e9.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.dem.mihaylova2022"},{"id":"src.dem.roundtable-peace"},{"id":"src.dem.dineva2019"}]},{"id":"democracy-1989.s5-election","number":5,"kind":"narrative","title":"A ballot chooses an assembly","body":"In spring 1990, talks led to an agreement to elect a Grand National Assembly. It would draft a new constitution, the country’s basic law. “Grand” means an assembly with special powers, such as adopting a constitution.\n\nVoting was on 10 June. On 17 June, further voting filled some assembly seats. Altogether, 400 representatives were elected. The Bulgarian Socialist Party, the renamed communist party, had 211 elected representatives. The Union of Democratic Forces had 144. Other political forces also had representatives.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-mladenov-480.892c8eae.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-mladenov-960.892c8eae.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-mladenov-1600.892c8eae.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#9d9d9d","h":1062,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-mladenov-960.892c8eae.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-dem-mladenov-960.892c8eae.webp","id":"asset.dem.mladenov","alt":"Two men in suits in front of an honour guard at an airport.","objectCaption":"Two men in suits in front of an honour guard at an airport.","caption":"","kindLabel":"Photo","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Bert Verhoeff  for  Anefo · CC0 · Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC0","attribution":"Archival photograph. Photo: Bert Verhoeff / Anefo; Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons; CC0. Petar Mladenov and Max van der Stoel in the Netherlands, 20 April 1976. Mladenov later replaced Zhivkov as party leader. This photograph does not show that change. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Archival photograph. Photo: Bert Verhoeff / Anefo; Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons; CC0. Petar Mladenov and Max van der Stoel in the Netherlands, 20 April 1976. Mladenov later replaced Zhivkov as party leader. This photograph does not show that change. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bulgaarse_minister_buitenlandse_zaken_Petar_Mladenof_in_Nederland_gearriveerd_M,_Bestanddeelnr_928-5305.jpg","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":38.478791666666666,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.democracy-1989.democracy-1989.s5-election","duration":38.571,"src":"/audio/en/democracy-1989/s5-election.f6b2f66b.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.dem.mihaylova2022"},{"id":"src.dem.ipu1990"}]},{"id":"democracy-1989.s6-constitution","number":6,"kind":"artifact","title":"Representatives adopt the constitution","body":"On 12 July 1991, the Grand National Assembly adopted the constitution. The next day, it appeared in Darzhaven vestnik, the official State Gazette for laws. It then took effect.\n\nArticle One says power comes from the people. Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic: parliament elects the government. Parliament makes laws, the government governs, and courts settle disputes and cases. The constitution allows different parties and protects expression within stated limits. Other laws cannot contradict it.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-cover-480.f4ee4d98.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-cover-647.f4ee4d98.avif","w":647}],"dominant":"#ced1cc","h":971,"w":647,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-cover-647.f4ee4d98.webp","w":647}],"src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-cover-647.f4ee4d98.webp","id":"asset.dem.constitution-cover","alt":"A leaf with the constitution’s title and preamble.","objectCaption":"A leaf with the constitution’s title and preamble.","caption":"","kind":"archive","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Reproduction: 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons; Public domain. The opening leaf of the 1991 constitution: title and preamble. Archival digital reproduction, Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 1. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Reproduction: 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons; Public domain. The opening leaf of the 1991 constitution: title and preamble. Archival digital reproduction, Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 1. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BASA-117-46-1084-1-Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Bulgaria.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-BulgarianGov"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-signatures-480.930c8e05.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-signatures-717.930c8e05.avif","w":717}],"dominant":"#bec1b8","h":982,"w":717,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-signatures-717.930c8e05.webp","w":717}],"src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-signatures-717.930c8e05.webp","id":"asset.dem.constitution-signatures","alt":"A leaf with printed names and handwritten entries.","objectCaption":"A leaf with printed names and handwritten entries.","caption":"","kind":"archive","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Reproduction: 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons; Public domain. Archival leaf with names and signatures from the constitution vote on 12 July 1991. Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 108. This is not the Ecoglasnost petition. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Reproduction: 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons; Public domain. Archival leaf with names and signatures from the constitution vote on 12 July 1991. Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 108. This is not the Ecoglasnost petition. 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This is the opening archival leaf, not a modern poster.","sourceIds":["src.dem.img.constitution-cover"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-representatives","x":0.49,"y":0.375,"title":"Who speaks in the text","body":"The opening speaks in the name of the representatives of the Seventh Grand National Assembly. 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Talks followed the next winter, and elections came in June.","correctOrderIds":["ev-petition","ev-party","ev-talks","ev-vote"],"sources":[{"id":"src.dem.eko1989"},{"id":"src.dem.bnt2019"},{"id":"src.dem.mihaylova2022"},{"id":"src.dem.ipu1990"}]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":3.347,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.democracy-1989.democracy-1989.a2-timeline","duration":3.456,"src":"/audio/en/democracy-1989/a2-timeline.161f3808.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.dem.eko1989"},{"id":"src.dem.bnt2019"},{"id":"src.dem.mihaylova2022"},{"id":"src.dem.ipu1990"}]},{"id":"democracy-1989.a3-matching","number":9,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: who did what","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.dem.matching","kind":"matching","prompt":"Match each participant with the action in the story.","sourceIds":["src.dem.eko1989","src.dem.roundtable-peace","src.dem.gazette1991"],"items":[{"id":"m-eco","label":"Ecoglasnost","pairedLabel":"Collects the water petition"},{"id":"m-table","label":"Round Table participants","pairedLabel":"Agree on nonviolent methods"},{"id":"m-assembly","label":"Grand National Assembly","pairedLabel":"Adopts the constitution in 1991"}],"explanation":"The petition was a civic action. The Round Table was a negotiation between political forces. The Grand National Assembly adopted the basic law.","sources":[{"id":"src.dem.eko1989"},{"id":"src.dem.roundtable-peace"},{"id":"src.dem.gazette1991"}],"columns":["Item","Description"]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":3.6024166666666666,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.democracy-1989.democracy-1989.a3-matching","duration":3.712,"src":"/audio/en/democracy-1989/a3-matching.c1a211e1.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.dem.eko1989"},{"id":"src.dem.roundtable-peace"},{"id":"src.dem.gazette1991"}]}],"minutes":4,"sources":[{"year":2019,"url":"https://bntnews.bg/bg/a/30-godini-ot-nachaloto-na-prekhoda-kakvo-se-sluchi-na-10-noemvri-1989-g","institutionOrAuthor":"Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия","id":"src.dem.bnt2019","title":"Какво се случи на 10 ноември 1989 г.?","container":"БНТ, По света и у нас","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"Boyana venue and election of Petar Mladenov as party general secretary."},"authors":["Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия"],"accessed":"2026-10-28","fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg","container":"bg"}},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.constcourt.bg/bg/legal-info-92","institutionOrAuthor":"Конституционен съд на Република България","id":"src.dem.constitution-web","title":"Конституция на Република България","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"Readable cross-check of unchanged principles and promulgation date. Roles of parliament, government and courts; parliamentary election of the government."},"authors":["Конституционен съд на Република България"],"accessed":"2026-10-28","fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg"},"container":""},{"year":2019,"url":"https://archiwum.ipn.gov.pl/download/1/333241/PiS33.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Detelina Dineva (Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)","id":"src.dem.dineva2019","title":"The Bulgarian 1989","container":"Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość","issue":"1 (33)","pages":"41–58","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"Context, repression of Bulgarian Turks, environmental petition, 26 October and 3 November, 9–10 November decisions, creation of UDF; competing attendance estimates."},"authors":["Detelina Dineva (Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)"],"accessed":"2026-10-28","isPdf":true},{"year":1989,"url":"https://www.ekoarhiv.parks.bg/dokumenti/priziv-na-ekoglasnost-sled-poboya-na-kristal-ot-26101989-i-obyavyavane-na-shestvie-za","institutionOrAuthor":"Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian)","id":"src.dem.eko1989","title":"Призив на Екогласност след побоя на Кристал от 26.10. и обявяване на шествие за 03.11.","container":"Архиви за природа","pages":"1 leaf","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"Petition against diversion of Rila waters, Kristal, police assault, march and submission to parliament; archive estimates 2,000–3,000 participants. Text used as evidence only; NC image excluded."},"authors":["Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian)"],"accessed":"2026-10-28","fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg","container":"bg"}},{"year":1991,"url":"https://www.parliament.bg/pub/costitution/71/DV/56_1991.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order)","id":"src.dem.gazette1991","title":"Конституция на Република България; Разпореждане от 12 юли г. за обнародване","container":"Държавен вестник","issue":"56","pages":"1–16 (whole issue; constitution at beginning)","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"Adoption on 12 July, promulgation and entry into force 13 July 1991; parliamentary republic, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, political pluralism, expression. Roles of parliament, government and courts; parliamentary election of the government."},"authors":["Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order)"],"accessed":"2026-10-28","isPdf":true,"fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg","container":"bg"}},{"year":1991,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BASA-117-46-1084-1-Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Bulgaria.jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria","id":"src.dem.img.constitution-cover","title":"BASA-117-46-1084-1-Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.jpg","container":"Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons","pages":"leaf 1","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"Image identity, visible features and licence only; not an independent source for 1989 chronology. The opening leaf of the 1991 constitution: title and preamble. Archival digital reproduction, Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 1."},"authors":["7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria"],"accessed":"2026-10-28"},{"year":1991,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BASA-117-46-1084-108-Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Bulgaria.jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria","id":"src.dem.img.constitution-signatures","title":"BASA-117-46-1084-108-Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.jpg","container":"Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons","pages":"leaf 108","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"Image identity, visible features and licence only; not an independent source for 1989 chronology. Archival leaf with names and signatures from the constitution vote on 12 July 1991. Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 108. This is not the Ecoglasnost petition."},"authors":["7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria"],"accessed":"2026-10-28"},{"year":1990,"url":"https://data.ipu.org/election-summary/HTML/2045_90.htm","institutionOrAuthor":"Inter-Parliamentary Union","id":"src.dem.ipu1990","title":"BULGARIA: Parliamentary elections held in","container":"IPU historical election archive","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"10 and 17 June elections, 400 seats, BSP 211 and UDF 144, competitive multiparty polling, campaign violence."},"authors":["Inter-Parliamentary Union"],"accessed":"2026-10-28"},{"year":2022,"url":"https://ojs.nbu.bg/index.php/YLD/article/download/868/867/2730","institutionOrAuthor":"Екатерина Михайлова","id":"src.dem.mihaylova2022","title":"Парламентарният правилник на седмото Велико народно събрание","container":"Годишник на департамент „Право“ на НБУ","volume":"11","issue":"12","pages":"74–89","doi":"10.33919/yldnbu.22.11.3","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"3 January preparatory talks; 15 January deletion of leading-party clause; 22 January plenaries; March agreements; 3 April law; constitution-making assembly."},"authors":["Екатерина Михайлова"],"accessed":"2026-10-28","isPdf":true,"fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg","container":"bg"}},{"year":1990,"url":"https://www.omda.bg/public/bulg/k_masa/dokumenti_round_table/agreement_miren_prehod.htm","institutionOrAuthor":"Участници в Националната кръгла маса; Александър Лилов и Желю Желев (co-chairs)","id":"src.dem.roundtable-peace","title":"Национално споразумение за гарантиране на мирното развитие на прехода към демократична политическа система","container":"OMDA, Кръгла маса: Документи","accessedOn":"2026-10-28","supports":{"en":"Commitment to nonviolence, dialogue, elections and preventing abuse by state organs; co-chairs and represented sides."},"authors":["Участници в Националната кръгла маса; Александър Лилов и Желю Желев (co-chairs)"],"accessed":"2026-10-28","fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg","container":"bg"}}],"credits":[{"id":"asset.dem.bell-cutout","src":"/media/asset-dem-bell-cutout-960.b48135fe.webp","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. A metal bell on a decorated base behind glass.","w":2214,"h":2259,"caption":"","credit":"Biser Todorov · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Biser Todorov; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0. A museum photograph of a parliamentary bell. The photograph’s catalogue associates it with the declaration of the people’s republic in 1946. Its use at the adoption of the constitution in 1991 has not been established. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Biser Todorov; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0. A museum photograph of a parliamentary bell. The photograph’s catalogue associates it with the declaration of the people’s republic in 1946. Its use at the adoption of the constitution in 1991 has not been established. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bell_of_bulgarian_parlament_1946.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.dem.parliament","src":"/media/asset-dem-parliament-960.44626f9e.webp","alt":"The light-coloured facade of the National Assembly in Sofia.","w":1600,"h":767,"caption":"","credit":"Лорд Бъмбъри · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Лорд Бъмбъри; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0. The National Assembly building in Sofia, 2 October 2016. A later view of the building, not evidence of its appearance or the people outside it in 1989. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Лорд Бъмбъри; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0. The National Assembly building in Sofia, 2 October 2016. A later view of the building, not evidence of its appearance or the people outside it in 1989. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Assembly_main_building,_Sofia,_October_2016_02.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.dem.zhivkov","src":"/media/asset-dem-zhivkov-960.051ea1bc.webp","alt":"Black-and-white photograph of Zhivkov wearing glasses at a microphone.","w":1600,"h":1223,"caption":"","kindLabel":"Photo","credit":"Unknown photographer / Anefo · CC0 · Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC0","attribution":"Archival photograph. Photo: Unknown photographer / Anefo; Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons; CC0. Todor Zhivkov in an archival photograph from 1971. The photograph does not show the party meeting of 1989. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Archival photograph. Photo: Unknown photographer / Anefo; Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons; CC0. Todor Zhivkov in an archival photograph from 1971. The photograph does not show the party meeting of 1989. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Todor_Zhivkov_,_eerste_secretaris_Communistische_Partij_en_president_van_Bulgari,_Bestanddeelnr_924-8077.jpg","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.dem.zhelev","src":"/media/asset-dem-zhelev-960.ce685995.webp","alt":"Zhelyu Zhelev on the left and Jacques Santer against blue with yellow stars.","w":1600,"h":1073,"caption":"","kindLabel":"Photo","credit":"Patrick Bombaert - European Commission · CC BY 4.0 · European Commission / Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY 4.0","attribution":"Archival photograph. Photo: Patrick Bombaert - European Commission; European Commission / Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0. Zhelyu Zhelev on the left with Jacques Santer, 26 March 1996. This is a later photograph of a Round Table participant, not a photograph of the negotiations. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Archival photograph. Photo: Patrick Bombaert - European Commission; European Commission / Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 4.0. Zhelyu Zhelev on the left with Jacques Santer, 26 March 1996. This is a later photograph of a Round Table participant, not a photograph of the negotiations. 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Petar Mladenov and Max van der Stoel in the Netherlands, 20 April 1976. Mladenov later replaced Zhivkov as party leader. This photograph does not show that change. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bulgaarse_minister_buitenlandse_zaken_Petar_Mladenof_in_Nederland_gearriveerd_M,_Bestanddeelnr_928-5305.jpg","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.dem.constitution-cover","src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-cover-647.f4ee4d98.webp","alt":"A leaf with the constitution’s title and preamble.","w":647,"h":971,"caption":"","credit":"7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Reproduction: 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons; Public domain. The opening leaf of the 1991 constitution: title and preamble. Archival digital reproduction, Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 1. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Reproduction: 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons; Public domain. The opening leaf of the 1991 constitution: title and preamble. Archival digital reproduction, Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 1. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BASA-117-46-1084-1-Constitution_of_the_Republic_of_Bulgaria.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-BulgarianGov","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.dem.constitution-signatures","src":"/media/asset-dem-constitution-signatures-717.930c8e05.webp","alt":"A leaf with printed names and handwritten entries.","w":717,"h":982,"caption":"","credit":"7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Reproduction: 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons; Public domain. Archival leaf with names and signatures from the constitution vote on 12 July 1991. Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084, leaf 108. This is not the Ecoglasnost petition. 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