Georgi Parvanov

At a glance

Source: Wikipedia: Georgi Parvanov¹

Career and presidency

Born in Sirishtnik in 1957, Parvanov grew up in nearby Kosacha. He studied history at Sofia University, graduating in 1981, and completed a doctorate in 1988. His research focused on the Bulgarian Communist Party and the Bulgarian national question. He joined the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1981; it became the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) in 1990.¹

Parvanov entered the National Assembly in 1994 and became BSP leader in December 1996. He won the 2001 presidential runoff against incumbent Petar Stoyanov, taking 54.1% of the vote. He took office on 22 January 2002 and left the BSP after his election. Re-elected in 2006 with 75.9%, he served until 22 January 2012. He supported Bulgaria’s accession to NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.¹

Political activity

After his presidential term ended, Parvanov returned to the BSP, leading to a dispute over party leadership. In 2014, he revived the ABV project and announced plans to field candidates for that year’s European parliamentary elections. ABV later became a political party. He was affiliated with Alternative for Bulgarian Revival from 2014 onwards. He stepped down as party leader on 15 January 2017, when Konstantin Prodanov replaced him.¹

Parvanov took an active role during a presidency whose office is largely representative. His views on issues including the Kosovo War were described as pro-Russian. In 2006, he acknowledged a pre-1989 file with Bulgaria’s Communist-era Security Service under the nickname “Gotse”. He said it related to historical consultation; other former commission members disputed his account.¹

Research and family

Before entering national politics, Parvanov worked at the Bulgarian Communist Party’s Institute for History, joining as a researcher in 1981 and becoming a senior research associate in 1989. His publications include studies of Dimitar Blagoev, Bulgarian social democracy and the Macedonian issue. In 2001, he became a member of the Internet Society of Bulgaria.¹

Parvanov and his wife, Zorka, married in 1983 and have two sons, Vladimir and Ivaylo. During his presidency, he initiated the Bulgarian Christmas charity campaign, which raises funds for children’s treatment and the renovation of hospitals and health institutions.¹

He was affiliated with the party Alternative for Bulgarian Revival from 2014 and stepped down as its leader in 2017.¹