Conventional Long Form Name: Republic of Bulgaria
Capital City: Sofia Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy Date of Independence: 3 March 1878 (autonomous pricipality within Ottoman Empire), 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire) National Holiday: Liberation Day--March 3 Chief of State: President Rosen Plevneliev Head of Government: Prime Minister Boyko Borisov Executive Branch/Powers: President and vice president elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly Legislative Branch/Powers: unicameral National Assembly (240 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) Judicial Branch/Powers: Supreme Court of Cassation and Supreme Administrative judges elected by the Supreme Judicial Council (consists of 25 members with extensive legal experience) and appointed by the president; Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly and appointed by the president and the SJC; justices appointed for 9-year terms with renewal of 4 justices every 3 years Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Ambassador to the U.S.: Elena Poptodrova Embassy in the U.S.: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 Consulate Location in the U.S.: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York Name of U.S. Ambassador: Charge d’Affaires Martina Strong Location of U.S. Embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408 U.S. Consulate Location: N/A Representitive to UN: Stefan Tafrov Symbolism of Flag: White-peace and honesty; Red- hardiness, bravery, strength, and valour; Green- hope, joy, and love National Symbols: Lion International Disputes: None Quantity of Refugees in Country/Origin of Refugees: 8,501 (Syria) Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: N/A Quantity of Stateless Persons: 67 Current Human Trafficking Issues: Bulgaria is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Bulgaria is one of the main sources of human trafficking in the EU; women and children are increasingly sex trafficked domestically; Romanian girls are also subjected to sex trafficking in Bulgaria Illicit Drug Trafficking/Use: Major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions |
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