„I have heard Blaga Dimitrova being described as a misunderstanding – a woman, and a poetess at that and so very rational. Critics who often reproach her of being ‘notional’ also blame her for a knack ‘to invent’.” These are words of celebrated Bulgarian-French philosopher Julia Kristeva showing how critics used to treat the creative work of one of the foremost poetesses in modern Bulgarian literature.

The rational and notional quality in Dimitrova’s work were the labels that official critics during communism attached to her accusing her of constant deviation from the tenets of socialist realism and from a truthful description of reality.

In the aftermath of 10 November 1989 that gave the start to political changes, Blaga Dimitrova was among a few intellectuals who supported the Union of Democratic Forces in its efforts to steer Bulgaria to a road to democracy. The UDF was the embodiment of the hopes for genuine and irreversible change, a reevaluation of the past and demanding accountability for those responsible for the disaster in the country.

In 1991 Blaga Dimitrova was elected UDF MP in the 36th National Assembly and a year later was elected Vice President to President Zhelyu Zhelev. Before accepting the vice presidential nomination she sought advice from her friend Maria Antonova who encouraged her. Later in her memories about their friendship Antonova wrote that as an honest person Blaga could not bear for long the poisonous atmosphere of political affairs.

Here is what Blaga Dimitrova herself said responding to accusations of new blue totalitarianism promoted by her party UDF which had adopted the blue as its party colour to oppose the communist red:

“Dear compatriots, I have not spoken up to make election propaganda, to reply to taunts and slander or to condemn or attack anybody or anything. The only thing that I cannot pass in silence is the encroachment on the pure and holy hopes of the people, the hopes for a revival of Bulgaria. Some have dared to cast a shadow over our young freedom with accusations of blue totalitarianism. I am asking you – who has been killed today without trial as was the case with thousands of victims after 9 September (on 9 September 1944 a pro-Soviet government was established in Bulgaria). Who has been displaced from their home so that new masters could get in? Who has been exiled to a concentration camp today like thousands of martyrs who lost their lives, health and family during that cruel regime? Whose children today have had their future destroyed because the name of their parents has been blackened? So where is this blue totalitarianism today?”

In the summer of 1992 a rift undermined relations between Blaga Dimitrova and Zhelyo Zhelev following a press conference where the president openly criticized the government of Philip Dimitrov. Loyal to her friends from UDF Dimitrova warned that a plot was underway to overthrow the government though the prime minister did not believe in that. After a failed vote of confidence and the appointment of the Luben Berov cabinet, Blaga Dimitrova stepped down as vice president. Here is what President Zhelev said on that occasion:

“I think she made a big political mistake maybe because she is a woman of literature, a poetess with a different attitude. She let the UDF National Coordinating Council turn her into a political puppet. I think we could have done many other things for Bulgarian democracy. As to our friendship, I believe we will keep it intact in the future too.”

The friendship between the two leaders though was never restored. The author of the novel Face left politics for good in 1999 disgusted by its hypocrisy. On 2 May 2003 Blaga Dimitrova lost the battle with cancer and her modesty and integrity remain as a great example of how a life should be lived.

English versione: Daniela Konstantinova