Political Leaders: Bulgaria

Leaders of Bulgaria
(Republic of Bulgaria)

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Look for biographies of the leaders (in Spanish) at CIDOB website. Also visit a detailed page on Bulgarian Governments since 1986 to know more about the ruling parties.

Late parties: BKP: Bulgarian Communist Part Zveno: People's League 'Zveno'

Current parties: Ataka: National Union 'Attack' (coalition) BZNS: Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union (original) BSP: Bulgarian Socialist Party DPS: Movement for Rights and Freedoms DSB: Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria GERB: Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria NDSV: National Movement Simeon II (renamed National Movement for Stability and Progress in 2007) SDS: Union of Democratic Forces n/p: non-party

Heads of State

King
Simeon II                       28 Aug 1943 - 15 Sep 1946          

Chairman of the Provisional Presidency
Vasil Petrov Kolarov            15 Sep 1946 -  9 Dec 1947 (+1950)  BKP

Chairmen of the Presidium of the National Assembly
Mincho Kolev Neychev             9 Dec 1947 - 28 May 1950 (+1956)  BKP 
Georgi Purvanov Damyanov        28 May 1950 - 27 Nov 1958 (+)      BKP  
Georgi Kulishev Gugov  +                                  (+1974)  BKP  
Nikolay Georgiev Ivanov         28 Nov 1958 -  1 Dec 1958 (+1987)  BKP (acting) 
Dimitur Ganev Vurbanov           1 Dec 1958 - 20 Apr 1964 (+)      BKP
Georgi Kulishev Gugov  +                                  (+1974)  BKP
Nikolay Georgiev Ivanov         20 Apr 1964 - 23 Apr 1964 (+1987)  BKP (acting)
Georgi Traykov Girovski         23 Apr 1964 -  7 Jul 1971 (+1975)  BKP

Chairmen of the Council of State
Todor Khristov Zhivkov           7 Jul 1971 - 17 Nov 1989 (+1998)  BKP
Petur Toshev Mladenov           17 Nov 1989 -  3 Apr 1990 (+2000)  BKP

Presidents of the Republic
Petur Toshev Mladenov            3 Apr 1990 -  6 Jul 1990 (+2000)  n/p 
Stanko Todorov Georgiev          6 Jul 1990 - 17 Jul 1990 (+1996)  (acting)
Nikolay Todorov Todorov         17 Jul 1990 -  1 Aug 1990 (+2003)  (acting)
Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev              1 Aug 1990 - 22 Jan 1997          SDS
Petur Stefanov Stoyanov         22 Jan 1997 - 22 Jan 2002          SDS
Georgi Sedefchov Purvanov       22 Jan 2002 - 22 Jan 2012          BSP                           
Rosen Asenov Plevneliev         22 Jan 2012 -                      GERB

Prime Ministers

Kimon Gheorgiev Stoyanov         9 Sep 1944 - 23 Nov 1946 (+1969)  Zveno 
Georgi Mihaylov Dimitrov        23 Nov 1946 -  2 Jul 1949 (+)      BKP
Vasil Petrov Kolarov            20 Jul 1949 - 23 Jan 1950 (+)      BKP 
Vulko Velov Chervenkov           3 Feb 1950 - 18 Apr 1956 (+1980)  BKP
Anton Tanev Yugov               18 Apr 1956 - 27 Nov 1962 (+1991)  BKP
Todor Khristov Zhivkov          27 Nov 1962 -  9 Jul 1971 (+1998)  BKP
Stanko Todorov Georgiev          9 Jul 1971 - 16 Jun 1981 (+1996)  BKP
Grisha Stanchev Filipov         16 Jun 1981 - 21 Mar 1986 (+1994)  BKP
Georgi Ivanov Atanasov          21 Mar 1986 -  3 Feb 1990          BKP    
Andrey Karlov Lukanov            3 Feb 1990 -  7 Dec 1990 (+1996)a BSP
Dimitur Popov                    7 Dec 1990 -  8 Nov 1991          n/p 
Filip Dimitrov Dimitrov          8 Nov 1991 - 30 Dec 1992          SDS
Lyuben Borisov Berov            30 Dec 1992 - 17 Oct 1994 (+2006)  n/p  
Reneta Ivanova Indzhova         17 Oct 1994 - 25 Jan 1995          n/p (interim)
Zhan Vasilev Videnov            25 Jan 1995 - 13 Feb 1997          BSP
Stefan Antonov Sofiyanski       13 Feb 1997 - 21 May 1997          n/p (interim)
Ivan Yordanov Kostov            21 May 1997 - 24 Jul 2001          SDS
Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski 24 Jul 2001 - 16 Aug 2005          NDSV  
Sergey Dimitrievich Stanishev   16 Aug 2005 - 27 Jul 2009          BSP
Boyko Metodiev Borisov          27 Jul 2009 -                      GERB

Heads of the National Assembly

President
Vasil Petrov Kolarov            15 Dec 1945 -  9 Dec 1947 (+1950)  BKP

Chairmen of the Presidium
Mincho Kolev Neychev             9 Dec 1947 - 28 May 1950 (+1956)  BKP 
Georgi Purvanov Damyanov        28 May 1950 - 28 Nov 1958 (+)      BKP  
Nikolay Georgiev Ivanov         28 Nov 1958 -  1 Dec 1958 (+1987)  BKP (acting) 
Dimitur Ganev Vurbanov           1 Dec 1958 - 20 Apr 1964 (+)      BKP
Nikolay Georgiev Ivanov         20 Apr 1964 - 23 Apr 1964 (+1987)  BKP (acting)
Georgi Traykov Girovski         23 Apr 1964 -  7 Jul 1971 (+1975)  BKP

Presidents
Georgi Traykov Girovski          7 Jul 1971 - 27 Apr 1972 (+1975)  BKP
Vladimir Bonev                  27 Apr 1972 - 16 Jun 1981          BKP
Stanko Todorov Georgiev         16 Jun 1981 - 17 Jul 1990 (+1996)  BKP 
Nikolay Todorov Todorov         17 Jul 1990 -  4 Nov 1991 (+2003)
Stefan Dimitrov Savov            4 Nov 1991 -  5 Nov 1992 (+2000)  SDS          
Aleksander Yordanov Aleksandrov  5 Nov 1992 - 12 Jan 1995          SDS   
Blagovest Hristov Sendov        12 Jan 1995 -  7 May 1997          BSP
Yordan Georgiev Sokolov          7 May 1997 -  5 Jul 2001          SDS 
Ognian Stefanov Gerdjikov        5 Jul 2001 - 23 Feb 2005          NDSV
Borislav Velikov                23 Feb 2005 - 11 Jul 2005          NDSV
Georgi Georgiev Pirinski        11 Jul 2005 - 14 Jul 2009          BSP
Tsetska Tsacheva Dangovska      14 Jul 2009 -                      GERB

First/General secretaries of the BKP

Traicho Kostov Dzhunev             Feb 1945 -    Aug 1948 (+1949)
Georgi Mihaylov Dimitrov        11 Aug 1948 -  2 Jul 1949 (+)      
Georgi Cankov Veselinov +                                 (+1990)  (acting) 
 Vulko Velov Chervenkov +        2 Jul 1949 -    Jul 1949 (+1980)  (acting)
Vasil Petrov Kolarov               Jul 1949 - 23 Jan 1950 (+)     
Dimitur Dimov Dimitrov  +                                 (+1968)  (acting)
 Vulko Velov Chervenkov +                                 (+1980)  (acting)
 Ruben Avramov Levi             23 Jan 1950 -  8 Feb 1950 (+1988)  (acting)   
Vulko Velov Chervenkov           8 Feb 1950 -  4 Mar 1954 (+1980)  
Todor Khristov Zhivkov           4 Mar 1954 - 10 Nov 1989 (+1998)  
Petur Toshev Mladenov           10 Nov 1989 -  2 Feb 1990 (+2000)  
Aleksander Vasilev Lilov         2 Feb 1990 -  3 Apr 1990

History of the BKP: 1891-1894: Bulgarian Social Democratic Party; 1894-1903: Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party; 1903-1919: Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party-"Narrow Socialists" (main split); 1919-1938: Bulgarian Communist Party(Narrow Socialists); 1938-1948: Bulgarian Workers' Party (from the merger of BKP(NS) and the Workers' Party); since 1948, Bulgarian Communist Party from the merger of BWP and the Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party. Transformed itself into BSP on 3 Apr 1990.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Petko Stoyanov Staynov        1944-1946 (+1972) Zveno
Georgi Kulishev Gugov         1946      (+1974) Zveno
Kimon Gheorgiev Stoyanov      1946-1947 (+1968) Zveno
Vasil Petrov Kolarov          1947-1949 (+1950) BKP 
Vladimir Tomov Poptomov       1949-1950 (+1952) BKP
Mincho Kolev Neychev          1950-1956 (+)     BKP
Karlo Todorov Lukanov         1956-1962 (+1982) BKP   
Ivan Khristo Bashev           1962-1971 (+)     BKP
Petur Toshev Mladenov         1971-1989 (+2000) BKP
Boyko Georgiev Dimitrov       1989-1990         BKP
Lyuben Stoyanov Gotsev        1990              BKP 
Viktor Georgiev Vulkov        1990-1991         BZNS
Stoyan Dimitrov Ganev         1991-1992         SDS
Lyuben Borisov Berov          1992-1993 (+2006) n/p
Stanislav Penkov Daskalov     1993-1994         n/p 
Ivan Ivanov Stanchov          1994-1995         n/p
Georgi Georgiev Pirinski      1995-1996         BSP
Irina Georgieva Bokova        1996-1997         BSP (acting)
Stoyan Zhivkov Stalev         1997              n/p (interim)
Nadezhda Nikolova Mihaylova   1997-2001         SDS
Solomon Isak Passy            2001-2005         NDSV
Ivaylo Georgiev Kalfin        2005-2009         BSP
Rumiana Jeleva                2009-2010         GERB
Nikolay Evtimov Mladenov      2010-             GERB

Ministers of Defence

Damyan Damyanov Velchev       1944-1946 (+1954) Zveno
Kimon Gheorgiev Stoyanov      1946      (+1969) Zveno 
Georgi Purvanov Damyanov      1946-1950 (+1958) BKP  
Petur Pavlov Panchevski       1950-1958 (+1982) BKP
Ivan Mihaylov Popov           1958-1962 (+1982) BKP
Dobri Marinov Dzhurov         1962-1990 (+2002) BKP                       
Yordan Zhekov Mutafchiev      1990-1991         BKP/BSP
Dimitur Petrov Ludzhiev       1991-1992         SDS
Aleksandur A. Staliyski       1992      (+2004) SDS      
Valentin Georgiev Aleksandrov 1992-1994         n/p 
Boyko Nikolov Noev            1994-1995         n/p (interim)
Dimitur Nikolov Pavlov        1995-1997         n/p
Georgi Germanov Ananiev       1997-1999         SDS
Boyko Nikolov Nowev           1999-2001         n/p
Nikolay Avramov Svinarov      2001-2005         NDSV
Veselin Bliznakov             2005-2008         NDSV
Nikolay Tsonev                2008-2009         n/p
Nikolay Evtimov Mladenov      2009-2010         GERB
Anyu Angelov                  2010-             military

To 1947, Ministry of War. (List courtesy of Bob Hilkens)

Ministers of the Interior

Anton Tanev Yugov             1944-1949 (+1991) BKP
Rusi Hristozov Gospodinov     1949-1951 (+1990) BKP 
Georgi Tsankov Ivanov         1951-1962         BKP
Diko Dimitrov Dikov           1962-1968         BKP
Angel Ivanov Solakov          1968-1971         BKP
Angel Minev Tsanev            1971-1973         BKP
Dimitur Ivanov Stoyanov       1973-1988         BKP
Georgi Sotirov Tanev          1988-1989         BKP 
Atanas Georgiev Semerdzhiev   1989-1990         BKP
Stoyan Stoyanov               1990              (acting)
Pencho Stoyanov Penev         1990              n/p 
Hristo Veselinov Danov        1990-1991 (+2003) n/p
Yordan Georgiev Sokolov       1991-1992         SDS
Viktor Neykov Mihaylov        1992-1994         n/p
Chavdar Velyov Chervenkov     1994-1995         n/p (interim)
Lyubomir Todorov Nachev       1995-1996 (+2006) BSP
Nikolay Kirilov Dobrev        1996-1997 (+1999) BSP 
Bogomil Angelov Bonev         1997-1999         n/p
Emanuil Nikolov Yordanov      1999-2001         SDS
Georgi Petrov Petkanov        2001-2005         NDSV
Rumen Petkov                  2005-2008         BSP
Mihail Mikov                  2008-2009         BSP
Tsvetan Tsvetanov             2009-             GERB

(List courtesy of Bob Hilkens)

Ministers of Finance

Petko Hristov Stoyanov        1944-1945 (+1951) n/p
Stancho Grigorov Cholakov     1945-1946 (+1981) Zveno
Ivan Stefanov Matveev         1946-1949 (+1980) BKP
Petko Georgiev Kunin          1949      (+1978) BKP
Kiril Georgiev Lazarov        1949-1962 (+1980) BKP
Dimitur Petrov Popov          1962-1976         BKP 
Belcho Antonov Belchev        1976-1987         BKP
Ognyan Nakov Doynov           1987-1989         BKP (*)
Belcho Antonov Belchev        1989-1990         BKP 
Ivan Yordanov Kostov          1990-1992         SDS
Stoyan Iliev Aleksandrov      1992-1994         n/p 
Hristina Angelova Vucheva     1994-1995         n/p (interim)
Dimitur Ivanov Kostov         1995-1997         n/p
Svetoslav Velislavov Gavriyski1997              n/p (interim)
Muravey Georgiev Radev        1997-2001         SDS
Milen Emilov Velchev          2001-2005         NDSV
Plamen Oresharski             2005-2009         n/p
Simeon Djankov                2009-             n/p

(*) No Ministry of Finances in this term, but merged with other departments into a "superministry" of Economic Affairs. (List courtesy of Bob Hilkens)

Leaders of GERB

Chairman
Tsvetan Genchev Tsvetanov     2006-

De facto leader  
Boyko Metodiev Borisov        2006-

GERB was founded on 3 Dec 2006.

Chairmen of BSP

Aleksander Vasilev Lilov      1990-1991         
Zhan Vasilev Videnov          1991-1996         
Georgi Sedefchov Purvanov     1996-2001         
Sergey Dimitrievich Stanishev 2001-

BSP appeared on 3 Apr 1990 as the transformation of the BKP. In the 2001, 2005 and 2009 general elections the party led the Coalition for Bulgaria (KzB).

Chairman and leader of NDSV

Simeon Sakskoburggotski       2001-

The NDSV was launched on 8 Apr 2001 as a political movement and became a political party on 6 Apr 2002. The party changed its name to National Movement for Stability and Progress on 3 Jun 2007.

Chairmen of SDS

Chairmen of the National Coordination Council
Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev           1989-1990         
Petur Berov                   1990     
Filip Dimitrov Dimitrov       1990-1994              
Ivan Yordanov Kostov          1994-1997          

Chairmen of the single party
Ivan Yordanov Kostov          1997-2001         
Ekaterina Mihaylova           2001-2002         
Nadezhda Nikolova Mihaylova   2002-2005         
Petur Stefanov Stoyanov       2005-2007         
Plamen Yurukov                2007-2008
Martin Dimitrov               2008-

SDS was founded in Dec 1989 as a political coalition, comprised initially by 11 parties and organizations which later grew in number, being accepted new ones and expelled or left old ones. On 15 Feb 1997 the SDS was registered as a single party, being the former coalition members associated partners. In the 1997, 2001 and 2005 elections the party led the United Democratic Forces (ODS).

Chairman of DPS

Ahmed Demir Dogan             1990-

DPS was founded on 4 Jan 1990.

Chairman of Ataka

Volen Siderov                 2005-

Ataka is a three-party coalition launched in Apr 2005 by the National Movement for the Salvation of the Fatherland (NDSO), the Bulgarian National Patriotic Party (BNPP) and the Union of Patriotic Forces and Militaries of the Reserve Defense (SPSVZZ).

Chairman of DSB

Ivan Yordanov Kostov          2004-

DSB was established by splinters of SDS in May 2004.

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