On January 30, 2015, Bulgaria woke up to the news of the passing of the country's first democratically elected president, Zhelyu Zhelev.
Born on March 3, 1935, Zhelev is a key figure in Bulgarian history, especially at the start of this country’s transition from communism to democracy. He graduated in Philosophy from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia in 1958 and worked as a post-graduate student at the university’s Faculty of Philosophy from 1961 to 1964.
Zhelev was initially a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party but was expelled in 1965 for political and ideological reasons. He remained unemployed until 1972. In 1982, he published his book Fascism (originally titled The Totalitarian State), which was later banned and withdrawn from circulation, though it was translated into ten languages.
In the late 1980s, Zhelev was one of the key figures behind Bulgaria's first informal opposition groups. On August 1, 1990, he was elected President of Bulgaria by the VII Grand National Assembly. On January 19, 1992, nominated by the Union of Democratic Forces coalition, Zhelev and Blaga Dimitrova won the second round of Bulgaria’s first direct presidential elections. He served as president until January 1997.
Following is a story in the English-language service of BTA that covered reactions to the news of the President's passing:
Bulgarian Political Elite Extol Life of President Zhelev
Sofia, January 30 (BTA) - The news of the passing of President Zhelyu Zhelev (1990-1997) triggered an outpour of eulogies in the Bulgarian political elite. Politicians were unanimous that Dr Zhelev has left a bright and lasting trace in Bulgarian history as a true dissident against the totalitarian rule and later as Bulgaria's first democratically elected Head of state.
President Rosen Plevneliev said that the death of Dr Zhelyu Zhelev is a grave loss for Bulgaria and for the global democratic community. "His life and his work set the course which Bulgaria continues to follow today: the course of a State and a nation which is headed with determination on the only possible path for Bulgarian people - the path towards building a European-style democracy, human rights and liberties," the President wrote in his message to Dr Zhelev's family.
President Peter Stoyanov (1997-2002) wrote in a statement that Dr Zhelev's name is sure to have a worthy place in the latest history of Bulgaria. "He was the first democratically elected President of this country and a vehement advocate of democratic values and rule of law. "Bulgarian people will remember him for his honesty, integrity and refusal to take advantage of material wealth," President Stoyanov said in a message.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said: "I share in the grief for our beloved President Zhelyu Zhelev. There is hardly a person in this country who can say a bad word about him. Old people here say that God collects the good people first."
Speaking at the opening of a business forum in Sofia, the Prime Minister said that the government and President's Office are making the necessary arrangements for a state funeral.
Vice President Margarita Popova said: "It is a sad day and we will be sad for long because we will miss him. A person who has grown beyond his day and who has served as a role model, is always missed."
Deputy Prime Minister Ivaylo Kalfin said: "Zhelyu Zhelev was one of those people who wanted with their heart to make Bulgaria a better place. I think everybody appreciates the loss of such people, despite our political differences. He worked whole-heartedly for his country."
Socialist party leader Mihail Mikov called Dr Zhelev "an outstanding personality", "a person of strong social commitment". "Despite his political positions which not everybody shared, he was a man of integrity who wanted a better future for Bulgaria".
Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Lyutvi Mestan said Dr Zhelev is "a true symbol of democracy". "Bulgaria has lost one of its brightest dissidents. A true unifier of the nation. The members and supporters of MRF truly loved Dr Zhelev because he raised to the height of being the Head of state of all Bulgarian people. Rest in peace!" Mestan said on behalf of his party.
Said Radan Kanev, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria leader and co-floor leader of the Right-wing Reformist Bloc: "For everybody in my generation, Dr Zhelev will remain a symbol of the overthrow of the community regime and an epitome of dissidence. Subsequently he became the first leader of the opposition, the first democratically elected Bulgarian President. He will go down in Bulgarian history as one of the people who made sure civil peace was never disturbed, despite all the mishaps and failures we have had. He played a pivotal role."
Patriotic Front co-leader Krassimir Karakachanov called him "a moderate in politics, the first democratically elected President with all the eccentricities of the time in which he lived and worked". "On his initiative, Bulgaria became an active player in Balkan politics with the recognition of Macedonia and showed an ambition to have a role in the Balkans."
The leader of the nationalist Ataka, Volen Siderov, said that Dr Zhelev failed to live up to people's expectations, did not use his full capacity as a politician and stayed within the cliche that "the West is good and democratic and all others are bad and undemocratic".
Rossen Petrov of the Bulgarian Democratic Centre group in Parliament said that his book "Fascism" was the first one to show clearly that all dictatorships are alike, despite the ideological differences. "He is the patron of our democracy. Rest in peace!" said Petrov.
The passing of Dr Zhelev is widely reported in the world press.
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