Abstract
The Bulgarian Communist Party, during its decades in power, became a genuine ‘party of the whole people’, but ipso facto the country's politico‐administrative elite, associated with the party, became an increasingly heterogeneous entity. With the decline of communist rule, clashes of interest within this elite emerged and dominated political processes. The Socialist Party (former Communist Party) retained office in the immediate aftermath of the change in regime, and was never able to break with its legacy ‐ which also retained public affection and allowed it to win votes in the difficult economic circumstances. A result has been a recognition of the need for firm measures, reinforced by pressure from external economic agencies, combined with an unwillingness or inability to implement them. The party in disarray held a congress in December 1996, leading to a change of leadership, but this proved insufficient to win the elections of April 1997, and the party subsequently split.
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