History of BulgariaHistory of Bulgaria
Cut-out detail; background removed. A metal bell on a decorated base behind glass.
Museum bell

10 November 1989 · 20th century

10 November: who changes the rules?

How did power change in 1989–1991?

9 scenes · 4 min · Sources · 10

StartListen

A water petition, a change of party leader, negotiations and elections. The story follows events from 1989 to the constitution of 1991.

The light-coloured facade of the National Assembly in Sofia.

Part 1 · 20th century

Signatures for water

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.

People 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.

Listen to scene · 1

Synthetic voice · 0:36
Sources · 2
  1. Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian) Призив на Екогласност след побоя на Кристал от 26.10. и обявяване на шествие за 03.11. Архиви за природа · 1989 · 1 leaf
  2. Detelina Dineva (Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) The Bulgarian 1989 PDF Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość · 2019 · 41–58
Geographic context, without historical bordersGeographic context, without historical borders12
Geographic context, without historical borders

Part 2 · 20th century

3 November: the papers reach parliament

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.

In 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.

Listen to scene · 2

Synthetic voice · 0:32
Sources · 2
  1. Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian) Призив на Екогласност след побоя на Кристал от 26.10. и обявяване на шествие за 03.11. Архиви за природа · 1989 · 1 leaf
  2. Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия Какво се случи на 10 ноември 1989 г.? БНТ, По света и у нас · 2019
Black-and-white photograph of Zhivkov wearing glasses at a microphone.

Part 3 · 20th century

10 November: a new party leader

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.

The 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.

Listen to scene · 3

Synthetic voice · 0:30
Sources · 4
  1. Detelina Dineva (Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) The Bulgarian 1989 PDF Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość · 2019 · 41–58
  2. Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия Какво се случи на 10 ноември 1989 г.? БНТ, По света и у нас · 2019
  3. Екатерина Михайлова Парламентарният правилник на седмото Велико народно събрание PDF Годишник на департамент „Право“ на НБУ · 2022 · 11 · 74–89
  4. Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order) Конституция на Република България; Разпореждане от 12 юли г. за обнародване PDF Държавен вестник · 1991 · 1–16 (whole issue; constitution at beginning)
Zhelyu Zhelev on the left and Jacques Santer against blue with yellow stars.

Part 4 · 20th century

Negotiators promise to avoid violence

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.

On 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.

Listen to scene · 4

Synthetic voice · 0:27
Sources · 3
  1. Екатерина Михайлова Парламентарният правилник на седмото Велико народно събрание PDF Годишник на департамент „Право“ на НБУ · 2022 · 11 · 74–89
  2. Участници в Националната кръгла маса; Александър Лилов и Желю Желев (co-chairs) Национално споразумение за гарантиране на мирното развитие на прехода към демократична политическа система OMDA, Кръгла маса: Документи · 1990
  3. Detelina Dineva (Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) The Bulgarian 1989 PDF Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość · 2019 · 41–58
Two men in suits in front of an honour guard at an airport.

Part 5 · 20th century

A ballot chooses an assembly

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.

Voting 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.

Listen to scene · 5

Synthetic voice · 0:38
Sources · 2
  1. Екатерина Михайлова Парламентарният правилник на седмото Велико народно събрание PDF Годишник на департамент „Право“ на НБУ · 2022 · 11 · 74–89
  2. Inter-Parliamentary Union BULGARIA: Parliamentary elections held in IPU historical election archive · 1990
A leaf with the constitution’s title and preamble.
A leaf with printed names and handwritten entries.
A leaf with typewritten articles of the constitution.
A metal bell on a decorated base behind glass.

Part 6 · 20th century

Representatives adopt the constitution

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.

Article 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.

1 · The title
The title names the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria. This is the opening archival leaf, not a modern poster.
2 · Who speaks in the text
The opening speaks in the name of the representatives of the Seventh Grand National Assembly. This is not the street petition.

Listen to scene · 6

Synthetic voice · 0:33
Sources · 4
  1. Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order) Конституция на Република България; Разпореждане от 12 юли г. за обнародване PDF Държавен вестник · 1991 · 1–16 (whole issue; constitution at beginning)
  2. Конституционен съд на Република България Конституция на Република България
  3. 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria BASA-117-46-1084-1-Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.jpg Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons · 1991 · leaf 1
  4. 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria BASA-117-46-1084-108-Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.jpg Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons · 1991 · leaf 108

Part 7 · 20th century

Activity: what changed

What happened on 10 November 1989?

  1. A new communist party general secretary was chosen.
  2. The new constitution was adopted.
  3. Elections for a Grand National Assembly were held.
Why is that?

The Central Committee chose a new leader to replace Zhivkov. This was a party decision.

Correct · A new communist party general secretary was chosen.

  1. Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия Какво се случи на 10 ноември 1989 г.? БНТ, По света и у нас · 2019
  2. Detelina Dineva (Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) The Bulgarian 1989 PDF Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość · 2019 · 41–58
  3. Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order) Конституция на Република България; Разпореждане от 12 юли г. за обнародване PDF Държавен вестник · 1991 · 1–16 (whole issue; constitution at beginning)
  4. Inter-Parliamentary Union BULGARIA: Parliamentary elections held in IPU historical election archive · 1990

Listen to scene · 7

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 4
  1. Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия Какво се случи на 10 ноември 1989 г.? БНТ, По света и у нас · 2019
  2. Detelina Dineva (Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) The Bulgarian 1989 PDF Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość · 2019 · 41–58
  3. Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order) Конституция на Република България; Разпореждане от 12 юли г. за обнародване PDF Държавен вестник · 1991 · 1–16 (whole issue; constitution at beginning)
  4. Inter-Parliamentary Union BULGARIA: Parliamentary elections held in IPU historical election archive · 1990

Part 8 · 20th century

Activity: order the steps

Put the events in order, earliest first.

  1. Petition submitted
  2. Party leadership change
  3. Preparatory talks
  4. Grand National Assembly elections
Why is that?

The petition preceded the Central Committee meeting. Talks followed the next winter, and elections came in June.

Correct order

  1. Petition submitted
  2. Party leadership change
  3. Preparatory talks
  4. Grand National Assembly elections
  1. Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian) Призив на Екогласност след побоя на Кристал от 26.10. и обявяване на шествие за 03.11. Архиви за природа · 1989 · 1 leaf
  2. Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия Какво се случи на 10 ноември 1989 г.? БНТ, По света и у нас · 2019
  3. Екатерина Михайлова Парламентарният правилник на седмото Велико народно събрание PDF Годишник на департамент „Право“ на НБУ · 2022 · 11 · 74–89
  4. Inter-Parliamentary Union BULGARIA: Parliamentary elections held in IPU historical election archive · 1990

Listen to scene · 8

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 4
  1. Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian) Призив на Екогласност след побоя на Кристал от 26.10. и обявяване на шествие за 03.11. Архиви за природа · 1989 · 1 leaf
  2. Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия Какво се случи на 10 ноември 1989 г.? БНТ, По света и у нас · 2019
  3. Екатерина Михайлова Парламентарният правилник на седмото Велико народно събрание PDF Годишник на департамент „Право“ на НБУ · 2022 · 11 · 74–89
  4. Inter-Parliamentary Union BULGARIA: Parliamentary elections held in IPU historical election archive · 1990

Part 9 · 20th century

Activity: who did what

Match each participant with the action in the story.

  1. Ecoglasnost · Collects the water petition
  2. Round Table participants · Agree on nonviolent methods
  3. Grand National Assembly · Adopts the constitution in 1991
Why is that?

The petition was a civic action. The Round Table was a negotiation between political forces. The Grand National Assembly adopted the basic law.

  1. Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian) Призив на Екогласност след побоя на Кристал от 26.10. и обявяване на шествие за 03.11. Архиви за природа · 1989 · 1 leaf
  2. Участници в Националната кръгла маса; Александър Лилов и Желю Желев (co-chairs) Национално споразумение за гарантиране на мирното развитие на прехода към демократична политическа система OMDA, Кръгла маса: Документи · 1990
  3. Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order) Конституция на Република България; Разпореждане от 12 юли г. за обнародване PDF Държавен вестник · 1991 · 1–16 (whole issue; constitution at beginning)

Listen to scene · 9

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 3
  1. Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian) Призив на Екогласност след побоя на Кристал от 26.10. и обявяване на шествие за 03.11. Архиви за природа · 1989 · 1 leaf
  2. Участници в Националната кръгла маса; Александър Лилов и Желю Желев (co-chairs) Национално споразумение за гарантиране на мирното развитие на прехода към демократична политическа система OMDA, Кръгла маса: Документи · 1990
  3. Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order) Конституция на Република България; Разпореждане от 12 юли г. за обнародване PDF Държавен вестник · 1991 · 1–16 (whole issue; constitution at beginning)

A new find for your collection

In this story, we distinguish replacing the leader from changing the rules.

Neolithic dwellings in Stara Zagora · Stara ZagoraThe home after the fireSee how people lived and worked in another period.Georgi Ivanov · BaikonurInto orbit, without dockingMadara Rider · MadaraThe rider above the path

People in this story

Max van der StoelJacques SanterTodor ZhivkovPetar MladenovZhelyu Zhelev

Sources

  1. Вера Александрова; Българска национална телевизия Какво се случи на 10 ноември 1989 г.? БНТ, По света и у нас · 2019
  2. Конституционен съд на Република България Конституция на Република България
  3. Detelina Dineva (Institute for Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) The Bulgarian 1989 PDF Pamięć i Sprawiedliwość · 2019 · 41–58
  4. Независимо сдружение Екогласност; Асоциация на парковете в България (archival custodian) Призив на Екогласност след побоя на Кристал от 26.10. и обявяване на шествие за 03.11. Архиви за природа · 1989 · 1 leaf
  5. Седмо Велико народно събрание; Николай Тодоров (publication order) Конституция на Република България; Разпореждане от 12 юли г. за обнародване PDF Държавен вестник · 1991 · 1–16 (whole issue; constitution at beginning)
  6. 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria BASA-117-46-1084-1-Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.jpg Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons · 1991 · leaf 1
  7. 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria BASA-117-46-1084-108-Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.jpg Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons · 1991 · leaf 108
  8. Inter-Parliamentary Union BULGARIA: Parliamentary elections held in IPU historical election archive · 1990
  9. Екатерина Михайлова Парламентарният правилник на седмото Велико народно събрание PDF Годишник на департамент „Право“ на НБУ · 2022 · 11 · 74–89
  10. Участници в Националната кръгла маса; Александър Лилов и Желю Желев (co-chairs) Национално споразумение за гарантиране на мирното развитие на прехода към демократична политическа система OMDA, Кръгла маса: Документи · 1990

Images

Biser Todorov · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full 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.

Лорд Бъмбъри · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full 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.

Photo

Unknown photographer / Anefo · CC0 · Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full 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.

Photo

Patrick Bombaert - European Commission · CC BY 4.0 · European Commission / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full 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.

Photo

Bert Verhoeff for Anefo · CC0 · Nationaal Archief / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full 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.

7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full 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.

7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full 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.

7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria · Public domain · Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Reproduction: 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Archives State Agency / Wikimedia Commons; Public domain. Leaf 27 of the constitution: visible text includes Article 78 on convening parliamentary sessions. Archival reproduction, Central State Archives, fonds 117, inventory 46, archival unit 1084. Processed image.

Biser Todorov · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full 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. Processed image.

Geographic context, without historical borders

Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso · Public domain · Natural Earth

Open source

Full attribution

Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso