Politics & Government Guide · BulgariaPolitics & Government Guide in Bulgaria
Political system, governance structure, stability indicators, and democratic institutions
Bulgaria operates as a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The country has experienced significant political instability, with seven governments formed in four years, culminating in Rosen Zhelyazkov's coalition government established in January 2025. The current government faces challenges including corruption concerns, press freedom limitations, and coalition fragility following the withdrawal of parliamentary support from the APS in April 2025.
Political Stability
Below Average
Corruption Index
Below Average
Democracy Index
Moderate
Government Type
Parliamentary Republic
Legal System
Civil law system based on the Bulgarian Constitution
Head of State
President Rumen Radev(since 2017)
Head of Government
Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov(GERB-SDS)since 2025
Political Indicators
Political Stability
Scale: 0-1
Moderate instability
World Bank Political Stability Index (2024)
Corruption Index
Scale: 0-100
Transparency International (2024)
Press Freedom
Scale: 0-100
Reporters Without Borders (2024)
Democracy Index
Scale: 0-10
Flawed Democracy
Economist Intelligence Unit (2024)
Legislature
Major Political Parties
Center-right
Center
Center-left
Populist
Centrist
Voting Rights
Bulgarian citizens aged 18 and above have the right to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections. EU citizens residing in Bulgaria can vote in local and European Parliament elections. Voting is not compulsory.
Recent Developments
- Formation of coalition government led by Rosen Zhelyazkov in January 2025 after two snap elections in 2024 ended political crisis
- Withdrawal of APS parliamentary support in April 2025, leading to increased influence of DPS-New Beginning
- Continued political instability with four governments formed between 2023-2025
- Implementation of EU recovery and resilience plan requirements as part of EU funding conditions
- Ongoing anti-corruption reforms and judicial independence initiatives
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