Georgi Parvanov

Georgi Parvanov Георги Първанов
President of Bulgaria
Incumbent
Assumed office  22 January 2002
Prime Minister	Boyko Borisov (2009-present) Sergei Stanishev (2005 – 2009) Simeon Sakskoburggotski (2001 – 2005)
Vice President	Angel Marin
Preceded by	Petar Stoyanov
Born	28 June 1957 (1957-06-28) (age 53) Sirishtnik, Bulgaria
Political party	Independent (2002–present)
Other political affiliations	Socialist Party (1990–2002) Communist Party (1981–1990)
Spouse(s)	Zorka Parvanova
Alma mater	Sofia University

Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov (Bulgarian: Георги Седефчов Първанов, IPA: [ɡɛˈɔrɡi pərˈvanɔf]) (born June 28, 1957) is the current President of Bulgaria; he has been elected after defeating his predecessor Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the presidential elections in November 2001 and he came into office in January 22, 2002. Georgi Parvanov started his second presidential mandate following victory in the 2006 presidential elections. Parvanov supports membership of Bulgaria in NATO and the European Union. According to Bulgarian law Bulgarian president is not allowed to be a member of a political party thus Parvanov is indipendent and he left the Socialist Party after his success in the presidential elections, although of course he identified as a socialist. Parvanov often declares being a 'social president' as his election platform was such - focusing on social care for unemployed, disadvantaged and poor. His major political and governmental contribution is helping to create the three-party government coalition on the August 16, 2005 which was a guarantee for the successful joining of Bulgaria in the EU.

Early years

Georgi Parvanov was born in the village of Sirishtnik, Pernik Province on June 28, 1957 and he grew up in the nearby village of Kosacha. In 1975 Parvanov graduated the secondary school in Pernik and in 1981 he finished his undergraduate education at the Sofia University, by gaining a major in history, specializing in the history of the Bulgarian Communist Party. In 1988 Parvanov defended his doctoral thesis in history, which is titled "Dimitar Blagoev and the Bulgarian national question 1879-1917".

Professional career

• Joined the Institute for History of the Bulgarian Communist Party as a researcher: 1981

Main interest: the Bulgarian national issue and the early history of social democracy in Bulgaria

• Senior Research Associate: 1989
• Member of the Internet Society of Bulgaria since May 2001

Political career

• Member of the Bulgarian Communist Party since 1981 (renamed to Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP in 1990)
• Deputy Chairman of the BSP Supreme Council: 1994
• Chairman of the BSP Supreme Council: 1996
• Re-elected Chairman of the BSP Supreme Council: 2000
• Member of Parliament: 1994–2001
• Chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Friendship with Greece and member of the Parliamentary Committee on Radio and Television: 1994–1997
• Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Left and the Parliamentary Group of Coalition for Bulgaria: 1997–2001
• Elected President of the Republic of Bulgaria: November 2001. Took office: 22 January 2002.
• Ran for re-election in 2006. Won the first round with 65 per cent of the vote on October 22. As turnout was less than 50%, he faced ultranationalist Volen Siderov at the runoff on October 29. Parvanov won with more than 75 per cent of the vote.

Collaboration with Committee for State Security

In 2006 Parvanov admitted that before 1989 there was a file on him at the former Communist Security Service (Darzhavna Sigurnost, or DS) under the nickname Gotse (to the revolutionary Gotse Delchev). The file like most other files of the Security Service long hasn't been released to the public (but is now available online). According to Parvanov's own statement, the file only shows that he had been consulted as a historian in conjunction with the writing of a memoir book about events related to the Macedonian Question in the 19th century.^[1] That was confirmed by two members of parliamentary commissions that had examined the files of the Security Service earlier — Bogomil Bonev and Veselin Angelov.^[1] Two other members, Metodi Andreev and Evgeni Dimitrov, accused the previous of lying asserting that the historical research had only been a prelude, followed by Parvanov's consent to work as an agent and write a report about his institute.^[2]

It is often speculated that part of the secret file is missing since the special Commission for Opening the Files in 19 July 2007 determined that the Georgi Parvanov was listed as a "collaborator" of the former Communist Security Service from 1989 (a month before Bulgaria's communist regime collapsed) to 1993^[3].

2006 Elections

In his second election campain the incumbent Parvanov came first with 64.047%^[4] of the first round, much ahead of the ultranationalist leader Volen Siderov with 21.486%^[4] and other candidates who scored little. But as Bulgarian law requires a turnout of at least 50% - voter turnout in the first round was 42.51%.^[5] - for a president to be elected in the first round a secon round was necessary and Parvanov had to face Sideroff in a run-off.

The second round turned out to a decisive victory for Parvanov who won around 75.9% of votes as compared to Siderov's 24.1% (with turnout 41.11%.^[6] ), meaning that Parvanov became the first person to be democratically re-elected as President of Bulgaria.^[7]

Political Stances

Although the office of the Bulgarian President is largely representative and executive power lies within the government, Georgi Parvanov has played an active political role. Georgi Parvanov has been implicated in a number of controversies, which has led many of Bulgaria's opposition parties as well as leading politicians and intellectuals to call for his impeachment. Some of the notable events and controversies in Paravnov's presidency are listed below.

Bulgarian Christmas Charity Campaign (2003-2008)

Georgi Parvanov initiated the "Bulgarian Christmas" campaign. The funds raised were used for the treatment of sick children and renovating hospitals and health institutions. Over the years, millions of euro have been donated by private individuals and companies. Parvanov has been closely related to the campaign and a warranter that the money would be spent as prescribed. ^[8]

Iraq Oil for Food program (2004)

The report of the Special Commission of the United Nations into the misconducts of the Iraqi "Oil for food" suggests that in 1998 Saddam Hussein took bribes from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, then lead by Parvanov and companies close to the party. Parvanov denied these allegations explaining that the party's financing was transparent and legitimate.^[9] No further evidence to support these claims were found.

References and notes

Publications

Parvanov is an author of dozens of scientific articles. His monographs and books:

• Dimitar Blagoev and the Bulgarian National Problem 1879–1917, 1988
• From Bouzloudja to the Corona Theatre. An Attempt at a New Reading of Pages from the BSP's Social Democratic Period, 1995
• The Bulgarian Social Democracy and the Macedonian Issue at the End of the 19th century up to 1918, 1997
• Before and after the 10th, 2001

External links

• Official Presidential Website of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov
• 2006 presidential election campaign website of Georgi Parvanov

Heads of state of Bulgaria since 1946 People's Republic of Bulgaria Kolarov · Naichev · Damyanov · Ganev · Traikov · Zhivkov · Mladenov Republic of Bulgaria Mladenov · Zhelev · Stoyanov · Parvanov