Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

30 years since the historic visit to Bulgaria by Francois Mitterrand

Photo: French embassy in Bulgaria

It is 30 years today since the historic visit to Bulgaria by French President Francois Mitterrand which gave an impetus to the democratic processes in the country.

During his visit in January 1989, President Mitterrand invited 12 Bulgarian dissident intellectuals to breakfast at the French embassy in Sofia, among them the future first democratically elected President of Bulgaria Zhelyu Zhelev. At their meeting they discussed the problems of societal development in Bulgaria, as well as the persecution the opponents of the regime were subjected to. Later, Francois Mitterrand met with Bulgarian students at the St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia.

President Mitterrand’s meeting with Bulgarian intellectuals is regarded as a key moment in the overthrowal of the Todor Zhivkov communist regime in Bulgaria, which took place in November of the same year. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Plovdiv

Bulgaria sees biggest growth in housing prices in Ruse, Plovdiv and Sofia

Housing prices in Bulgaria continue to rise. In the second quarter of 2024, they increased by 3.4% compared to the previous quarter. The largest price growth was registered in the town of Ruse (+13.2%), followed by the cities of Plovdiv (+5.3%), Sofia..

published on 9/24/24 4:40 PM

Bulgaria and Romania's entry into Schengen by land borderes will be proposed on October 10

On October 10, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Hungary will propose to the Council of the EU that checks on the land borders of Bulgaria and Romania be abolished.   The..

published on 9/24/24 3:04 PM

PM Dimitar Glavchev to Bulgarians in the USA: What we lack is unity

Bulgaria's Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, who is in the US for the Summit in New York, met in Chicago with businessmen, representatives of various Bulgarian organizations, schools and cultural centers.  He congratulated the..

published on 9/24/24 1:55 PM