Many Bulgarians keep the heating turned off even on the coldest winter days. The choice is either the cold or no food. Unemployment stands around 13 percent, but there is no doubt this figure will have to increase dramatically if the Bulgarian economy wants to escape its current hopeless state of bankruptcy. The most recent estimates of Bulgarian grain stock indicate that the country has some 260 thousand tons of grain, an amount that can last a maximum of one month, even with lowered consumption. However, such a purchase will not prevent another bread crisis, similar to the one in May of last year.
Social tensions are thus likely to intensify, with the final outcome remaining unpredictable.
In late 1995, events seemed more optimistic. Although the government headed by Ljuben Berov did not manage to carry through real privatization, certain success was accomplished, though it was the Socialists who received credit in the end. The Socialists literally stole what remained of the national wealth, and invested the monies into dubious and speculative transactions. There is open talk of millions of dollars being taken out of the country and being placed in private Swiss bank accounts. Naturally, outside factors are also responsible for the current economic and political crisis in Bulgaria.