Georgi Parvanov

Georgi Parvanov
Георги Първанов
3rd President of Bulgaria
In office
22 January 2002 – 22 January 2012
Prime Minister Simeon Sakskoburggotski
Sergei Stanishev
Boyko Borisov
Vice President Angel Marin
Preceded by Petar Stoyanov
Succeeded by Rosen Plevneliev
Personal details
Born Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov
(1957-06-28) 28 June 1957
Sirishtnik, Bulgaria
Political party Communist Party (1981-1990)
Socialist Party (1990–2002; 2012–2014)
Independent (2002–2012)
Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (2014–present)
Spouse(s) Zorka Petrova (1983–present)
Children Vladimir
Ivaylo
Alma mater Sofia University
Signature

Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov (Bulgarian: Георги Седефчов Първанов, IPA: [ɡɛˈɔrɡi pɐrˈvanof]) (born 28 June 1957) is a Bulgarian historian and politician who was President of Bulgaria from 2002 to 2012. He was elected after defeating the incumbent Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the November 2001 presidential election, and he took office on 22 January 2002. He was reelected in a landslide victory in 2006, becoming the first Bulgarian president to serve two terms. Parvanov was a supporter of Bulgaria's membership in NATO and the European Union.

According to Bulgarian law, a Bulgarian president is not allowed to be a member of a political party, thus Parvanov left the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) after his election in 2001. Although he identified as a socialist, Parvanov often called himself a 'social president'.

After completing his second term as President, Parvanov returned to the Socialist Party, prompting a dispute over the party leadership. In January 2014 Parvanov restarted his Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV) project, announcing he would be fielding his own candidates for the 2014 European parliamentary elections. On January 15, 2017 he stepped down as party leader and was replaced by Konstantin Prodanov.[1]

Biography

Early years

Georgi Parvanov was born in the village of Sirishtnik, Pernik Province on 28 June 1957 and he grew up in the nearby village of Kosacha.[2] In 1975 Parvanov graduated from 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.[3] In 1988 Parvanov defended his doctoral thesis in history, which is titled "Dimitar Blagoev and the Bulgarian national question 1879-1917".[4]

Professional career

Parvanov joined the Institute for History of the Bulgarian Communist Party as a researcher in 1981. His main interest was the Bulgarian national issue and the early history of social democracy in Bulgaria. In 1989 he was promoted to a senior research associate.[4]

In May 2001 he became a member of the Internet Society of Bulgaria.

Political career

Early political career

In 1981 Parvanov joined the Bulgarian Communist Party. In April 1990 the party was transformed into the Bulgarian Socialist Party. In 1989 Parvanov formed the nationalist organization "Nationwide Committee for the Defense of National Interests" (Bulgarian: Общонароден комитет за защита на националните интереси).[5] In 1994 he became Deputy Chairman of the BSP national Council. It was also in that year that he was elected to the National Assembly; he was reelected in 1997 and 2001. Parvanov was chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Friendship with Greece and member of the Parliamentary Committee on Radio and Television from 1994 to 1997.

Leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party

Because of a severe financial crisis, the Prime Minister and leader of the BSP, Zhan Videnov, resigned in December 1996. Georgi Parvanov was elected as his successor that month.[NB 1] However, after large protests against the socialist government in January 1997, Parvanov and Nikolay Dobrev (the nominated Prime Minister) returned the mandate to form a government.[6] In the early parliamentary elections that ensued, the Socialist Party went into opposition, swept away by the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS).

In 2000 Parvanov was reelected as Chairman of the National Council of the BSP. He has been credited with altering the geopolitical orientation of the party, paving the way for Bulgaria's joining of NATO in 2004.[7]

Parvanov led his party to its worst electoral performance in 2001. Both the BSP and the SDS suffered greatly from the rise of the newly founded National Movement for Simeon II.

2001 presidential election

In the first round of the 2001 presidential election, Parvanov won 36.4% of the votes, finishing ahead of the incumbent SDS candidate, Petar Stoyanov, who polled 34.9% of the votes. The voter turnout was the lowest to date: only 41.8%. Parvanov emerged victorious in the runoff, winning 54.1% of the votes. Voter turnout was significantly higher in the second round: 55.1%. Following his victory, Sergei Stanishev took over the party leadership. Parvanov took office on 22 January 2002.

2006 presidential election

In 2006 he ran for re-election. He was backed by the ruling triple coalition, who won 70% of the seats in parliament the year before. He won first round on 22 October with 64 per cent of the vote. Because the turnout was less than 50%, he faced the nationalist Volen Siderov at the runoff on 29 October. Parvanov won with 76 per cent of the vote. This made Parvanov the first President to be reelected in Bulgaria.[8]

Second mandate

President George W. Bush and President Georgi Parvanov shake hands, 11 June 2007, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

In the second mandate of Georgi Parvanov as a President of Bulgaria, two governments changed - that of Sergei Stanishev and the current one of Boiko Borisov. As for the government of Stanishev Parvanov is often accused of not taking position about important matters, the critics even made Parvanov admit he actually proposed resignation of Stanishev as a PM before the end of Stanishev government's mandate in oder that the Socialist Party has more chances in the following parliamentary elections. At the beginning of the First Borisov Government, Parvanov faced regular argues with Finance Minister Simeon Djankov and later with Minister of Defence Aniu Anev, and indirectly with Minister of Education Sergei Ignatov. Arguments and tapes send to media reached such point that a proposal for impeachment reached in Bulgarian Parliament which had enough signed representers but in the last moment was not voted by the RZS party and thus failed parliamentary approval. Following the attempt for impeachment Parvanov quickly gained back his personal authority.

Parvanov in Slivnitsa, Bulgaria, 18 November 2010.

ABV (АБВ)

In summer 2010, Parvanov reached his platform ABV (Bulgarian: АБВ) the name constructed by the first three letters in Bulgarian alphabet which he claimed was neither a political party nor a preparation for registering such. However, he visited many cities and had meetings with mayors which was a sign that some interpreted as a preparation for regional and further parliamentary elections. With the coming-out of the first sociological researches, it became clear ABV would not reach enough votes in the next elections and Parvanov moved his sight back to his party BSP. It was also suggested that ABV will move as a part of BSP at some point. While in 2013 virtually no media mentioned ABV in any context, in January 2014 Parvanov made what some media called "a disappointing attempt to restart the project",[9] and others referred to ABV as an "officially frozen project".[10]

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. His political views, for example in the context of the Kosovo War, have been described as pro-Russian.[11]

Criticisms

Collaboration with Committee for State Security

In 2006 Parvanov admitted that before 1989 there was a file on him at the Communist Security Service (Darzhavna Sigurnost, or DS) under the nickname "Gotse" (for the revolutionary Gotse Delchev) for his scientific assistance on Macedonian topics. The file like most other files of the Security Service hasn't been released to the public for a while (it 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.[12] That was confirmed by two members of parliamentary commissions that had examined the files of the Security Service earlier — Bogomil Bonev and Veselin Angelov.[12] Two other members, Metodi Andreev and Evgeni Dimitrov, accused the former of lying and asserted 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.[13]

Iraq Oil for Food program (1998)

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 led by Parvanov and companies close to the party. Parvanov denied these allegations explaining that the party's financing was transparent and legitimate.[14] No further evidence to support these claims was found.

Other

Bulgarian Christmas Charity Campaign (2003-present)

Georgi Parvanov initiated the "Bulgarian Christmas" campaign, a funds raised for the treatment of children and renovation of hospitals and health institutions.[4] Bulgarian Christmas is a musical event each year at the time of Christmas in which Bulgarian performers sing their most popular songs in the audience of the President and his wife, and other VIP guests, the event is TV-broadcast on the national channel BNT and funds are being raised by sms and bank accounts.

Over the years, millions of euro have been donated by private individuals such as Igor Parvanov and foreign companies, and Parvanov as closely related to the campaign warrants that the money be spent as prescribed.[15]

Family

Parvanov has two children with his wife, Zorka Parvanova: Vladimir and Ivaylo. Parvanov has two grandchildren from his son Vladimir: Georgi (born 2011) and Victoria (born 2015).

Honours

Foreign honours

Notes

  1. ↑ Since the Bulgarian Socialist Party was the leader of the coalition "Democratic Left", and then the "Coalition for Bulgaria", Parvanov became its chairman as well.

References

  1. ↑ "Konstantin Prodanov Elected Head of Bulgarian Ex-President's Party". novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  2. ↑ Lilov 2013, p. 246.
  3. ↑ Prodanov, Todorov, Avramov & Ivanova 2009, p. 497.
  4. 1 2 3 Lilov 2013, p. 247.
  5. ↑ Lilov 2013, p. 265.
  6. ↑ "I Have Been Labeled Traitor 17 Y Ago to Data". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  7. ↑ Prodanov, Todorov, Avramov & Ivanova 2009, p. 498.
  8. ↑ Lilov 2013, p. 257.
  9. ↑ http://news.bgnes.com/view/1135617
  10. ↑ http://duma.bg/node/69709
  11. ↑ Lilov 2013, p. 256.
  12. 1 2 "mediapool.bg : Parvanov admitted about Gotse". mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  13. ↑ "Parvanov should resign". www.sedembg.com (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  14. ↑ "Iraq: Report That Hussein Bribed Foreign Leaders Sparks Denials, Calls For Investigations". rferl.org. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  15. ↑ "The Bulgarian Christmas". www.bgkoleda.bg. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  16. ↑ Georgi Pırvanovun "Heydər Əliyev" ordeni ilə təltif edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı. president.az
  17. ↑ Belgian Royal Family Website, State visit in Bulgaria (2003), Photo
  18. ↑ Nomination by Sovereign Ordonnance n° 16518 of 26 November 2004 (French)
  19. ↑ Boletín Oficial del Estado

Bibliography

Lilov, Grigor (2013). Най-богатите българи (1st ed.). Sofia: "Кайлас" ЕООД. ISBN 978-954-92098-9-1. 
Prodanov, Vasil; Todorov, Antoniy; Avramov, Yosif; Ivanova, Vanya (2009). Българският парламент и преходът (1st ed.). Sofia: Ciela. ISBN 978-954-28-0352-2. 

Publications

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

Political offices
Preceded by
Petar Stoyanov		 President of Bulgaria
2002–2012 		Succeeded by
Rosen Plevneliev
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