NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06531447
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: May 13, 2016
• Case Number: F-2016-00502
• Publication Date: January 19, 1990

Approved for Release: 2016/05/11 C06531447
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Approved for Release: 2016/05/11 C06531447
Approved for Release: 2016/05/11 C06531447
BULGARIA: Opposition Growing More Radical
The anti-Communist opposition appears increasingly divided over.
how to conduct negotiations with the regime. but the Communists
are not likely to benefit significantly from any split. The Union. of
Democratic Forces, the opposition's umbrella group, yesterday
suspended roundtable talks until Monday when the regime refused to
give it equal access to the media and a headquarters building. What
appears to be a majority.of UDF members have vowed to break away
if the current UDF negotiating team is not replaced today
-cower Bulgarian leader Zhivkov was arrested
yesterday and charged with incitine ethnichatred. embezzling public
funds, and abuse of office
Comment: The UDE' may avoid a split temporarily by electing new
negotiation leaders, but the opposition appears certain to break into
moderate and more radical groups. A radical faction would be led by
the increasingly powerful independent trade union Podkrepa and
undoubtedly would Challenge the regime with protests and strikes.
Communist Party leader Miadenov's transparent attempt to further
distance himself from the former regime by arresting Zhivkov may
open a Pandora's box. More serious issues likely to implicate some
current party leaders�including the 1978 murder of exiled dissident
Georgi Markov�may be raised.
ROMANIA: FSN Cancels Referendum on Communist Party
The National Salvation Front is demonstrating a pattern of
indecision on key issues and sharp internal divisions. The Front
yesterday canceled a 28 January national referendum on the legality
of the discredited Communist Party and on the death penalty because
of criticism from many in the Front that the move was undemocratic
and made only under pressure from demonstrators last Friday. Front-
controlled media have identified Vice President Mazilu�who had
sided with the protesters�as a former Securitate officer and accused
him of manipulating the crowds in an effort to wrest power from
President IlleScu and Prime Minister Roman. Front spokesman
Brucan reported the government will confiscate the Communist
Party's assets. (C NE)
Comment: The provisional leadership's quarrels and policy reversals
Will erode its credibility. The reversal of its.promise to outlaw .the
Communist Party and hold a referendum on capital punishment is
likely to trigger a new round of protests. Mazilu is unlikely to survive
the controversy. Because of growing public cynicism, confiscation of
the party's property probably will gain the Front little credit and
probably will increase popular concern that it will use the assets to
tighten its grip on power
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It l9 January 1990
Approved for Release: 2016/05/11 C06531447