PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
Rumen Radev is the fifth democratically elected President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
He was born on 18 June 1963 in Dimitrovgrad. He graduated from the High School of Mathematics in Haskovo with a gold medal in 1982. Rumen Radev took his University Degree at the Air Force Academy in Dolna Mitropolia as the top graduate. In 1992 he successfully completed the Air Force Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, USA. From 1994 to 1996 Rumen Radev attended the Command and Staff College – G.S.Rakovski National Defence Academy, Bulgaria, and graduated as the top graduate. In 2000 Rumen Radev was awarded PhD in Military Science, majoring in ‘Enhancing the Tactical Training of Aircrews and Air Combat Simulations’.
In 2003 Rumen Radev completed the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, USA, as a distinguished graduate and took Master’s Degree in ‘Strategic Studies’. His name is written on the Glory Alley of the Air War College.
Rumen Radev is a First Class pilot with more than 1400 flight hours. He is a MiG-29 Instructor and Demo-pilot and was promoted a Major General. During 2014-2016 Rumen Radev was Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force.
In November 2016 Rumen Radev was elected President of the Republic of Bulgaria in direct elections with Iliana Iotova as Vice President, gaining over 60% support of the Bulgarian voters.
In 2021 Rumen Radev was reelected for second term as a President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The fourth President of the Republic is Rosen Plevneliev (in office January 22 2012 - January 22 2017).
Rosen Plevneliev won the election for President of the Republic of Bulgaria at the second round on October 30 2011 with Margarita Popova as Vice President. They took the oath in the National Assembly on January 19 2012 and officially took office on January 22 2012.
The third President of the Republic was Georgi Parvanov (in office January 22 2002 - January 22 2007, January 22 2007 - January 22 2012).
Georgi Parvanov was born on June 28 1957. He graduated from the Faculty of History at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in 1981, and in 1988 he defended his doctoral thesis in history.
Georgi Parvanov was an MP in the 37th, 38th and 39th National Assemblies. From December 1996 until his election as President he was chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party.
He was elected President of the Republic of Bulgaria and Vice President Angel Marin at a runoff on November 18 2001 They took the oath in the National Assembly on January 19 2002 and officially took office on January 22 2002.
On October 29 2006, Georgi Parvanov and Angel Marin won the presidential runoff election and were re-elected for a second term.
They took the oath in the National Assembly on January 19 2007 and officially took office on January 22 2007.
The second President of the Republic was Petar Stoyanov (in office January 22 1997 - January 22 2002).
Petar Stoyanov was born on May 25 1952. He graduated in law from the Law Faculty of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in 1976. In 1992 he became Deputy Minister of Justice in the government of Philip Dimitrov, and in 1994 was elected an MP for the Union of Democratic Forces in the 38th National Assembly and was Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of the UDF. In 1995, Petar Stoyanov was elected Vice President of the UDF.
He won the election for President of the Republic of Bulgaria at the second round on November 3 1996 with Todor Kavaldzhiev as Vice President.
They took the oath in the National Assembly on January 19 1997 and officially took office on January 22 1997.
The first President of the Republic was Zhelyu Zhelev (in office, August 1 1990 – January 22 1992, January 22 1992 - January 22 1997).
Zhelyu Zhelev was born on March 3 1935. In 1958 he graduated in philosophy at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. He is a Ph.D., co-founder and first president of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF). He headed the Delegation of the UDF during the Round Table in 1990.
On August 1 1990, the Seventh Grand National Assembly elected Zhelyu Zhelev as President of the country. He held this position until his election as President of the Republic of Bulgaria in the month of January 1992.
The first direct democratic presidential elections were held in two rounds, on January 12 1992 and January 19 1992. They were won by candidates of the UDF, Zhelyu Zhelev, elected President and Blaga Dimitrova, elected Vice President.
They took the oath in the National Assembly on January 22 1992.
