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1. Main concepts

2. Institutions of representative democracy

Main concepts

Youth participation refers to the active involvement of young people in decision-making processes at local, regional and national level. It encompasses representative participation (e.g. through youth councils, student councils and youth organisations), civic engagement (volunteering, activism, community initiatives) and political participation (voting, standing for elections, party membership, public consultations).  

The Youth Act (Закон за младежта) (effective from 2012, last amendment and supplement 2 August 2022) provides for some concepts in relation to youth participation. It defines “youth activities” as organised activities or initiatives which aim to represent, support and promote the needs and interests of young people. 

“Youth organisation” is a voluntary association of persons for the implementation of youth activities, which meets the following requirements: (i) not less than 70 percent of the persons in it are aged between 15 and 29 years, both inclusive; (ii) more than half of the members of the governing body are young people aged 18 to 29 years, both inclusive.

As a form of participation, the Youth Act sets out a definition of “youth volunteering”, which refers to activities for public benefit carried out, free of pay, by young people in the Republic of Bulgaria or in another country, as part of programs and initiatives with social, youth or sports agendas or other agendas intended to benefit society.

Institutions of representative democracy 

Bulgaria is a uniform parliamentary republic with local self-governance and with distinct distribution of powers: legislative, executive, and judicial. The country is ruled by virtue of the supreme law – the Constitution adopted in 1991 (last amended 2015), and the laws of the country, and the political life is based on the principle of political pluralism. Voting is not compulsory.

The legislative power is exercised by a uni-chamber parliament, while executive power is vested in the Council of Ministers. The President is the head of state and commander in chief, directly elected, with representative and limited constitutional powers.

The constitutional framework is set out in the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria (1991).

National Level

• National Assembly. The National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria (Народно събрание на Република България) is the un-chamber parliament composed of 240 Members elected for a four-year term. It exercises legislative authority, adopts the state budget, ratifies international treaties and exercises parliamentary control over the executive power.
• President of the Republic of Bulgaria. The President of the Republic of Bulgaria (Президент на Република България) is directly elected for a five-year term. The President represents the state internationally, promulgates laws, may return any law to parliament for reconsideration (suspensive veto), and appoints a caretaker government under specific constitutional conditions. They are also the commander in chief of the Bulgarian National Army.
• Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria (Министерски съвет на Република България) exercises executive power. It is headed by the Prime Minister, who is elected by the National Assembly. The Council of Ministers develops and implements state policy, including policies concerning youth.

Regional Level

• Bulgaria is divided into 28 regions (области). Regional governors are appointed by the Council of Ministers and represent the central government at regional level. Regional administration primarily ensures implementation of national policies. (National Institute of Statistics)

Local Level

Bulgaria has 265 municipalities (общини), which constitute the basic units of local self-government. (National Institute of Statistics) 

• Municipal Council. The Municipal Council is the elected deliberative body at local level. It adopts municipal budgets, development strategies and local regulations.
• Mayor. The Mayor is directly elected and heads the municipal executive authority. The Mayor implements the decisions of the Municipal Council and manages local administration.

Local self-government is constitutionally guaranteed.

The organisation of elections is regulated by the Electoral Code (Изборен кодекс) (effective from 5 March 2014, last amendment 8 October 2024).

The key principles include universal, equal and direct suffrage and secret ballot. Elections are conducted through proportional representation for parliamentary elections and majoritarian voting for presidential and mayoral elections (two-round system where applicable). Voting is not compulsory. Voting is conducted primarily in person by paper ballot, with the possibility of machine voting in polling stations. Voting by post or by proxy is not generally permitted. Bulgarian citizens residing abroad may vote in polling stations established outside the country, under conditions defined by law.