The change in the profile of the members of the movement for Rights and Freedom in Bulgaria and the Impact on the Minorities

After the end of the Cold War, the world order has changed and Bulgaria becameone of the states, which were most affected by this process of change. In order to keeppace with the rest of the world, Bulgaria overthrowed the communist regime andestablished a parlamental democracy, which was drastically different from the previousregime. A fundamental change like this, naturally put the state into a very difficultprocess from both political and economic aspect. The end of the so called Transitionprocess is still a matter of argument, in spite of the fact that Bulgaria is a member of theEuropean Union since 2007.The Movement for Rights and Freedom, which would greatly affect and take animportant place in the Bulgarian political life, was formed in period defined by theactivities, which led to the end of the totaliterian regime and the instable politicalatmosphere after that. The Movement for Rights and Freedom, which was established asan illegal formation against the abolishment of the minority?s rights during the so calledRegenerating process, which occured in the late years of the one-party state, became oneof the main political parties in Bulgaria after the establishment of the democraticregime. In this period, when the Bulgarian society nas newly begun to be indoctrinatedwith the democratic values, the MRF has accepted the protection of the minority?s rightsand freedom for its main purpose and a party image.The facts, that the MRF was established in order to defend the rights of theTurkish minority in Bulgaria, that most of the founders and those, who became memberafter that and the fact that the mission of the party was to protect the rights of theminorities/Turks were the main reasons of the MRF to permanently gain the image ofan ethnic Turkish party.As a consequence of the political success in the following years and the ongoingexpansion and improvement and especially after Bulgaria?s accession to the EuropeanUnion, the MRF has accepted its mission of protecting the minority?s rights, which wasalso the reason for its establishment, for completed and made significant changes in itspolitical line and image and shedding the image of an ethich Turkish party became itsmain purpose. The establishment of the MRF, its later development and the changes inits political line and the profile of its members were analysed in this study.Key words: 1) Bulgaria 2) Minorities 3) MRF