Bulgaria vs. Romania
Government
| Bulgaria | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria local long form: Republika Bulgaria local short form: Bulgaria former: Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Republic of Bulgaria etymology: named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D. | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania former: Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania etymology: the name derives from the Latin "Romanus" meaning "citizen of Rome" and was used to stress the common ancient heritage of Romania's three main regions - Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia - during their gradual unification between the mid-19th century and early 20th century |
| Government type | parliamentary republic | semi-presidential republic |
| Capital | name: Sofia geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: named after the Saint Sofia Church in the city, parts of which date back to the 4th century A.D. | name: Bucharest geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: related to the Romanian word "bucura" that is believed to be of Dacian origin and whose meaning is "to be glad (happy)"; Bucharest's meaning is thus akin to "city of joy" |
| Administrative divisions | 28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Sofia-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol | 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea |
| Independence | 3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire) | 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed) |
| National holiday | Liberation Day, 3 March (1878) | Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918) |
| Constitution | history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; passage requires three-fourths majority vote of National Assembly members in three ballots; signed by the National Assembly chairperson; note - under special circumstances, a "Grand National Assembly" is elected with the authority to write a new constitution and amend certain articles of the constitution, including those affecting basic civil rights and national sovereignty; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in each of several readings; amended several times, last in 2015 | history: several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991 amendments: initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania's counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or - if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003 |
| Legal system | civil law | civil law system |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017); Vice President Iliana IOTOVA (since 22 January 2017) head of government: Interim Prime Minister Stefan YANEV (since 12 May 2021); note - YANEV is leading a caretaker government until elections are held on 11 July 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 6 and 13 November 2016 (next to be held in fall 2021); 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 election results: Rumen RADEV elected president in second round; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent, supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%, neither 4.5% | chief of state: President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Florin CITU (since 23 December 2020); Deputy Prime Ministers Dan BARNA and Kelemen HUNOR (since 23 December 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament election results: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%; Ludovic ORBAN approved as prime minister with 240 votes |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 11 July 2021 (next election to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - ITN 23.8%, GERB-SDS 23.2%, BSP for Bulgaria 13.2%, DB 12.5%, DPS 10.6%, ISMV 5%, other 11.7%; seats by party/coalition ITN 65, GERB-SDS 63, BSP for Bulgaria 36, DB 34, DPS 29, ISMV 13 | description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of: Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (330 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PSD 29.3%, PNL 25.6%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.9%, AUR 9.2%, UDMR 5.9%, other 14.1%; seats by party - PSD 47, PNL 41, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 25, AUR 14, UDMR 9; composition - men NA, women NA, percent of women NA% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSD 28.9%, PNL 25.2%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.4%, AUR 9.1%, UDMR 5.7%, other 15.7%; seats by party - PSD 110, PNL 93, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 55, AUR 33, UDMR 21, other 18; composition men NA, women NA, percent of women NA; note - total Parliament percent of women NA% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges); Supreme Administrative Court (organized into 2 colleges with various panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 justices); note - Constitutional Court resides outside the judiciary judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Cassation and Supreme Administrative judges elected by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC (consists of 25 members with extensive legal experience) and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; 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 subordinate courts: appeals courts; regional and district courts; administrative courts; courts martial | highest courts: High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts |
| Political parties and leaders | Agrarian People's Union or ZNS [Roumen YONCHEV] Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union [Nikolay NENCHEV] Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Korneliya NINOVA] (alliance of BSP, ZNS, PKT, New Dawn, Ecoglasnost) Bulgaria of the Citizens or DBG [Dimiter DELCHEV]] Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB (alliance with SDS) [Boyko BORISSOV] Democratic Bulgaria or DB (alliance of Yes! Bulgaria, DSB, and The Greens) [Atanas ATANASOV, Hristo IVANOV] Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Atanas ATANASOV] Ecoglasnost [Emil GEORGIEV] Green Movement or The Greens [Borislav SANDOV, Vladislav PENEV] Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS [Mustafa KARADAYI] Movement 21 or D21 [Tatyana DONCHEVA] New Dawn [Mincho MINCHEV] Political Club Thrace or PKT [Stefan NACHEZ] Stand Up.BG or IS.BG [Maya MONOLOVA] Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out! or ISMV (coalition of IS.BG, D21, DBG, ENP, ZNS, and Volt) [Maya MONOLOVA, Nikolay HADZHIGENOV] There is Such a People or ITN [SLAVI TRIFONOV] United People's Party or ENP [Valentina VASILEVA-FILADELFEVS] Union of Democratic Forces or SDS [Rumen HRISTOV] Yes! Bulgaria [Hristo IVANOV] Volt Bulgaria or Volt [Nastimir ANANIEV] | 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance [Dan BARNA and Dacian CIOLOS] Alliance for the Unity of Romanians [George SIMION and Claudiu TARZIU] Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD [Aurelian PAVELESCU] Civic Hungarian Party [Zsolt BIRO] Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Hunor KELEMEN] Ecologist Party of Romania or PER [Danut POP] Greater Romania Party or PRM [Adrian POPESCU] M10 Party [Ioana CONSTANTIN] National Liberal Party or PNL [Ludovic ORBAN] New Romania Party or PNR [Sebastian POPESCU] Our Romania Alliance [Marian MUNTEANU] Party of Liberty, Unity, and Solidarity or PLUS [Dacian CIOLOS] Party of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats or ALDE [Calin POPESCU TARICEANU] Popular Movement Party or PMP [Traian BASESCU] Romanian Social Party or PSRo [Mircea GEOANA] Save Romania Union Party or Partidul USR [Dan BARNA] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Marcel CIOLACU] United Romania Party or PRU [Robert BUGA] |
| International organization participation | Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Tihomir Anguelov STOYTCHEV (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174; [1] (202) 299-0273, [1] (202) 483-1386 FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 email address and website: office@bulgaria-embassy.org; Embassy.Washington@mfa.bg https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/homepage/ consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cristian GAGINSKY (since 19 June 2021) chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4829; [1] (202) 332-4846 FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 email address and website: washington@mae.ro (chancery) contact@informatiiconsulare.ro (consular section) https://washington.mae.ro/en consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA (since 18 October 2019) embassy: 16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408 mailing address: 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320 email address and website: acs_sofia@state.gov https://bg.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David MUNIZ (since 20 January 2021) embassy: 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118 mailing address: 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300 FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442 email address and website: ACSBucharest@state.gov https://ro.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the pan-Slavic white-blue-red colors were modified by substituting a green band (representing freedom) for the blue note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed | three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova |
| National anthem | name: "Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland) lyrics/music: Tsvetan Tsvetkov RADOSLAVOV note: adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War | name: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!) lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | lion; national colors: white, green, red | golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow, red |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bulgaria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
Source: CIA Factbook
