Houston Democrats

Objectives
The program is designed to introduce influential non-English speaking MPs in Bulgaria's new National Assembly to U.S. foreign policy objectives. The goal is to provide leading MPs with an intensive, first-hand look at U.S. foreign policy, especially with regard to Trans-Atlantic cooperation, U.S. foreign policies in Central and Southeast Europe, assistance policy and international security issues. The program will also focus on the issues of Trans-Atlantic ties and relations between the U.S. and the European Union, which Bulgaria hopes to join in 2007. The SCP will allow participants to gain first-hand knowledge of contemporary American society and the U.S. political system.

Background

Bulgaria's new parliament was formed in July 2005 following the June 25 general elections that produced inconclusive results with no party winning a clear majority. This outcome resulted in the formation of a Socialist-led government backed by the largest coalition in the Balkan state's post-communist history. This program targets MPs from the ruling coalition, which comprises the three biggest political parties - the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the National Movement for Simeon II (NMSS) and the predominantly ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). The three parties in the ruling majority hold 169 seats in the 240-seat parliament and dominate all parliamentary committees. Their representatives head the key committees in parliament, including the Foreign Policy Committee, the Defense Committee and Legal Committee. The program targets leading members of these committees as well as up-and-coming political figures poised to play an important role in the legislative process in the new parliament.