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{{short description|Bulgarian historian and politician (born 1957)}}
{{Infobox_President | name = Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov <br> Георги Седефчов Първанов
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
| nationality = bulgarian
{{multiple issues|
| image = Georgi purvanov.jpg
{{cleanup|reason=article's grammar, style and orthography|date=October 2011}}
| order = 4th ] of the ]
{{tone|date=October 2011}}
| term_start = ] ]
{{update|date=March 2014}}
| term_end =
| vicepresident = ]
| primeminister = ]
| predecessor = ]
| successor = incumbent
| birth_date = ] ]
| birth_place = ]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = ]
| party = ]
}} }}
{{Family name hatnote|Sedefchov|Parvanov|lang=Bulgarian}}
{{redirect|Parvanov|other people named Parvanov|Parvanov (surname)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Georgi Parvanov
| native_name = {{Nobold|Георги Първанов}}
| native_name_lang = bg
| image = Georgi_Parvanov_Senate_of_Poland_01.jpg
| caption = Parvanov in 2008
| order = 3rd
| office = President of Bulgaria
| term_start = 22 January 2002
| term_end = 22 January 2012
| primeminister = {{plainlist|
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| vicepresident = ]
| predecessor = ]
| successor = ]
| office1 = ]
| term_start1 = 21 December 1996
| term_end1 = 5 December 2001
| predecessor1 = ]
| successor1 = ]
| office2 = ]
| term_start2 = 12 January 1995
| term_end2 = 29 November 2001
| constituency2 = ]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|6|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], Bulgaria
| party = ] (2014–present)
| otherparty = {{plainlist|
* ] (1981–1990)
* ] (1990–2002; 2012–2014)
* ] (2002–2012)
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1983}}
| children = Vladimir, Ivaylo
| alma_mater = ]
| awards = ]
| signature = Signature of Georgi Parvanov.png
}}
{{Socialism sidebar |Jim Crow}}
'''Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov''' ({{langx|bg|Георги Седефчов Първанов}}, {{IPA|bg|ɡɛˈɔrɡi pɐrˈvanof|IPA}}) (born 28 June 1957) is a Bulgarian historian and politician who was ] from 2002 to 2012. He was elected after defeating incumbent ] in the second round of the ]. He took office on 22 January 2002. He was reelected in a landslide victory in ], becoming the first Bulgarian president to serve two terms. Parvanov supported Bulgaria's entry into ] and the ].


According to Bulgarian law, a Bulgarian president is not allowed to be a member of a political party, thus Parvanov left the ] (BSP) after his election in 2001. Although he identified as a ], Parvanov often called himself a 'social president'.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
'''Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov''' ({{lang-bg|Георги Седефчов Първанов}}) (born ] ]) has been ] of ] since ] ]. Parvanov became president after defeating his predecessor, ], in the second round of the November 2001 presidential election.


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 ] (ABV) project, announcing he would be fielding his own candidates for the ]. On 15 January 2017, he stepped down as party leader and was replaced by ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Konstantin Prodanov Elected Head of Bulgarian Ex-President's Party|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/178366/Konstantin+Prodanov+Elected+Head+of+Bulgarian+Ex-President%27s+Party|date=15 January 2017|publisher=Sofia News Agency|website=novinite.com|access-date=16 January 2017}}</ref>
==Views==
He is in favour of Bulgarian membership of ] and the ]. He identifies himself as a ] but left the ] after he had been elected president, as the president is not allowed to be a political party member.


== Biography ==
On election, his programme was to be a 'social' president, with care towards poor, unemployed and disadvantaged people. Parvanov helped in the creation of a three-party coalition composed of socialists (]), liberals (]) and ethnic Turks (]) which formed government on August 16, 2005.
=== Early years ===
Georgi Parvanov was born in ], ] on 28 June 1957 and he grew up in nearby ].{{sfn|Lilov|2013|p=246}} In 1975 Parvanov graduated from secondary school in ] and in 1981 finished his undergraduate education at ], gaining a major in history, specializing in the history of the ].{{sfn|Prodanov|Todorov|Avramov|Ivanova|2009|p=497}} In 1988 Parvanov defended his doctoral thesis in history, which is titled "] and the Bulgarian national question 1879-1917".{{sfn|Lilov|2013|p=247}}


=== Professional career ===
==Education==
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.{{sfn|Lilov|2013|p=247}}
* Mathematics college in ]: 1975
* ] in History, St. Kliment Ohridski ]: 1981
* ] in History: 1988


In May 2001 he became a member of the Internet Society of Bulgaria.<ref>http://www.isoc.bg/index_en.html</ref>
==Professional career==
* Joined the Institute of History of the Bulgarian Communist Party as researcher: 1981
:Main interest: the Bulgarian national issue and the early history of social democracy in Bulgaria
* Senior Research Associate: 1989
* Member of the since May 2001


==Political career== == Political career ==
=== Early political career ===
* Member of the ] since 1981 (renamed to ], BSP in 1990)
In 1981 Parvanov joined the ]. In April 1990 the party was transformed into the ]. In 1989 Parvanov formed the nationalist organization "Nationwide Committee for the Defense of National Interests" (Bulgarian: Общонароден комитет за защита на националните интереси).{{sfn|Lilov|2013|p=265}} In 1994 he became Deputy Chairman of the BSP national Council. It was also in that year that he was ] to the ]; he was reelected in ] and ]. 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.
* 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: ] ].
* 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 ] on October 29. Parvanov won with more than 75 per cent of the vote.


=== Leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party ===
==Publications==
Because of a severe ], the Prime Minister and leader of the BSP, ], resigned in December 1996. Georgi Parvanov was elected as his successor that month.<ref group=NB>Since the Bulgarian Socialist Party was the leader of the coalition "Democratic Left", and then the "]", Parvanov became its chairman as well.</ref> However, after large ] against the socialist government in January 1997, Parvanov and ] (the nominated Prime Minister) returned the mandate to form a government.<ref>{{cite web|title=I Have Been Labeled Traitor 17 Y Ago to Data|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/157865/Ex-Bulgarian+President%3A+I+Have+Been+Labeled+Traitor+17+Y+Ago+to+Date|work=Novinite.com|publisher=Sofia News Agency|access-date=22 March 2014}}</ref> In the early parliamentary ] that ensued, the Socialist Party went into opposition, swept away by the ] (SDS).
Dozens of scientific articles, monographs and books, including:
*''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).


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 ] in 2004.{{sfn|Prodanov|Todorov|Avramov|Ivanova|2009|p=498}}
=="Agent Gotse" and the 2006 Elections==
In 2006 Parvanov admitted that before 1989 there was a file on him at the former Communist Security Service ('']'', or DS) under the nickname Gotse. The file, which, like most files of the Security Service, hasn't been released to the public, does not prove beyond reasonable doubt that he has actually been an agent at the DS, and those who have had access to it disagree as to what it contains. 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 from one hundred years ago (). That was confirmed by two members of parliamentary commissions that had examined the files of the Security Service earlier — Bogomil Bonev and Veselin Angelov (, ). Two other members, Metodi Andreev and Evgeni Dimitrov (,), accused the first two 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. According to them, the sole reason why that information hadn't been released by the commissions earlier had been that Parvanov's consent had only been reported by the agent who recruited him and couldn't be confirmed in the way required by law, i.e. with a declaration or a report signed in his own hand. Parvanov's admission and the ensuing debates didn't decrease significantly his ratings prior to the ], ] presidential elections.


Parvanov led his party to its worst electoral performance in ]. Both the BSP and the SDS suffered greatly from the rise of the newly founded ].
In the first round of the elections, incumbent Parvanov came first with 64.047%<ref name=official1>{{cite web |url=http://www.izbori2006.org/results/ |title=Elections 2006: Final results for the country according to the Central Electoral Commission for the President and Vice President Elections |language=Bulgarian |accessdate=2006-10-24 |publisher=Izbori2006.org}}</ref> ahead of ultranationalist leader ] with 21.486%,<ref name=official1/> whom he had to face in a runoff, as Bulgarian law requires a turnout of 50% for a president to be elected in the first round. The ] in the first round was 42.51%.<ref name=turnout>{{cite web |url=http://www.izbori2006.org/activity/ |title=Elections 2006: Voter turnout for the country as of 7 pm |language=Bulgarian |publisher=Izbori2006.org}}</ref>


=== 2001 presidential election ===
The second round saw a decisive Parvanov victory of around 75.9% as opposed to Siderov's 24.1%, meaning that Parvanov became the first person to be democratically reelected as President of Bulgaria.<ref>], although having served two terms, was elected as a president not by popular vote, but by the ] for his first term.</ref> The turnout was 41.11%.<ref name=focturn>{{cite web |url=http://focus-news.net/?id=n588295 |title=41,11 % е окончателната избирателна активност в страната към 19 часа |publisher=Focus News |language=Bulgarian |date=2006-10-29 |accessdate=2006-10-29 }}</ref>
{{Main|2001 Bulgarian 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, ], 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, ] took over the party leadership. Parvanov took office on 22 January 2002, becoming the first ex-Communist to win the presidency since 1990.


=== 2006 presidential election ===
==References and notes==
{{Main|2006 Bulgarian presidential election}}
In 2006 he ran for re-election. He was backed by the ruling ], who won 70% of the seats in parliament ]. 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 ] at the ] on 29 October. Parvanov won with 76 per cent of the vote. This made Parvanov the first President to be reelected in Bulgaria.{{sfn|Lilov|2013|p=257}}

=== Second mandate ===
]
] in Sofia, 18 January 2008]]
], on 11 November 2008]]
], on 25 November 2009]]
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 order that the Socialist Party has more chances in the ]. At the beginning of the ], 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.

], Bulgaria, 18 November 2010.]]

==== ABV (АБВ) ====
In summer 2010, Parvanov reached his platform ] (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",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bgnes.com/view/1135617 |title=Агенция БГНЕС – Първанов направи неуспешен рестарт на проекта АБВ |access-date=2014-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111071448/http://news.bgnes.com/view/1135617 |archive-date=11 January 2014 }}</ref> and others referred to ABV as an "officially frozen project".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://duma.bg/node/69709|title = Първанов с позиция срещу Сидеров от името на АБВ &#124; Вестник "ДУМА"| date=11 January 2014 }}</ref>

=== 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 ], have been described as pro-Russian.{{sfn|Lilov|2013|p=256}}

==Criticisms==
=== Collaboration with Committee for State Security ===
In 2006 Parvanov admitted that before 1989 there was a file on him at the ] (''Darzhavna Sigurnost'', or DS) under the nickname "Gotse" (for the revolutionary ]) 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 ] in the 19th century.<ref name="mediapool">{{cite web |url=http://mediapool.bg/show/?storyid=118644 |title=mediapool.bg : Parvanov admitted about Gotse |date=23 June 2006 |publisher=mediapool.bg |language=bg |access-date=2008-04-23 }}</ref> That was confirmed by two members of parliamentary commissions that had examined the files of the Security Service earlier&nbsp;— Bogomil Bonev and Veselin Angelov.<ref name="mediapool" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sedembg.com/165/page16.htm |title=Parvanov should resign |publisher=sedembg.com |language=bg |access-date=2008-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505224228/http://www.sedembg.com/165/page16.htm |archive-date=5 May 2008 }}</ref>{{failed verification|date=January 2013}}

=== Iraq Oil for Food program (1998) ===
The report of the Special Commission of the United Nations into the misconduct 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.<ref name=oil4food >{{cite news |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1051387.html |title=Iraq: Report That Hussein Bribed Foreign Leaders Sparks Denials, Calls For Investigations |access-date=2009-01-06 |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=8 April 2008 |last1=Recknagel |first1=Charles }}</ref> 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.{{sfn|Lilov|2013|p=247}} Bulgarian Christmas is a ] each year at the time of Christmas in which ] performers sing their most popular songs in the audience of the President and his wife, and other VIP guests. The event is ]-broadcast on the national channel ] and funds are being raised by donations through ] and bank transfers.

Over the years, millions of ] 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bgkoleda.bg/en/news.php?id=53 |title=The Bulgarian Christmas | publisher=bgkoleda.bg |access-date=2009-07-09 }}</ref>


==Family==
Parvanov has two children with his wife, ]: Vladimir and Ivaylo. Parvanov has two grandchildren from his son Vladimir: Georgi (born 2011) and Victoria (born 2015).<ref>{{Cite web |title=parvanova – Synonyms for parvanova {{!}} Synonyms of parvanova |url=https://synonymsbot.com/parvanova |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=synonymsbot.com}}</ref>

== Honours ==
=== Foreign honours ===
].]]
* {{Flag|Azerbaijan}}: ]<ref></ref>
* {{Flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the ]<ref>Belgian Royal Family Website, State visit in Bulgaria (2003), {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524060530/http://www.monarchie.be/sites/default/files/imagecache/ImageDetail/images/fr_bulga3_3160.jpg |date=24 May 2012 }}</ref>
* {{Flag|Brazil}}: Knight Grand Cross of the ]
* {{Flag|Denmark}}: Knight of the ] (29 March 2006)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kongehuset.dk/modtagere-af-danske-dekorationer|title=Modtagere af danske dekorationer|website=kongehuset.dk|date=12 December 2017|access-date=2019-01-30|language=da|archive-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512015518/http://kongehuset.dk/modtagere-af-danske-dekorationer|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Estonia}}: Collar of the ] (30 May 2003)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearer/446/georgi-parvanov|title=Vabariigi President|website=president.ee|access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Latvia}}: 1st Class with Chain of the ]
* {{Flag|Lithuania}}: Knight Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the ] (13 March 2009)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://grybauskaite1.lrp.lt/lt/prezidento_veikla/apdovanojimai/apdovanojimai_256.html|title=Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentė|website=grybauskaite1.lrp.lt|access-date=2019-08-22|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808051300/http://grybauskaite1.lrp.lt/lt/prezidento_veikla/apdovanojimai/apdovanojimai_256.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flag|Malta}}: Companion of Honour with Collar of the ] (20 October 2009)<ref>Prime Minister of Malta Website, {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007150936/https://opm.gov.mt/hatriet-onorarji?l=1 |date=7 October 2011 }}</ref>
* {{Flag|Monaco}}: Knight Grand Cross of the ] (26 November 2004)<ref>Nomination by Sovereign Ordonnance (French)</ref>
* {{Flag|Norway}}: Knight Grand Cross of the ] (29 August 2006)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995|title=Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer|website=kongehuset.no|language=no|access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Spain}}: Collar of the ] (7 June 2003)<ref></ref>
* {{Flag|Portugal}}: Grand Collar of the ] (7 October 2002)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154&list=1|title=ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS – Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas|website=ordens.presidencia.pt|access-date=2019-08-22}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=NB}}

== References ==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


==Internal Links== ==Bibliography==
:{{Cite book |last1=Lilov|first1=Grigor|year=2013|title=Най-богатите българи|edition=1st|location=Sofia |publisher="Кайлас" ЕООД|isbn=978-954-92098-9-1|url=http://knigabg.com/index.php?page=book&id=34089}}
*]
:{{Cite book|last1=Prodanov|first1=Vasil|last2=Todorov|first2=Antoniy|last3=Avramov|first3=Yosif|last4=Ivanova|first4=Vanya|year=2009|title=Българският парламент и преходът|edition=1st|location=Sofia|publisher=Ciela|isbn=978-954-28-0352-2|url=https://ciela.com/b-lgarskijat-parlament-i-prehod-t.html}}


== Publications ==
==External links==
Parvanov is an author of dozens of scientific articles. His monographs and books:
* - official website
* ''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 ==
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{{commons|Georgi Parvanov}}
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Latest revision as of 13:10, 18 December 2024

Bulgarian historian and politician (born 1957)

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In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Sedefchov and the family name is Parvanov. "Parvanov" redirects here. For other people named Parvanov, see Parvanov (surname).
Georgi Parvanov
Георги Първанов
Parvanov in 2008
3rd President of Bulgaria
In office
22 January 2002 – 22 January 2012
Prime Minister
Vice PresidentAngel Marin
Preceded byPetar Stoyanov
Succeeded byRosen Plevneliev
Leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party
In office
21 December 1996 – 5 December 2001
Preceded byZhan Videnov
Succeeded bySergey Stanishev
Member of the National Assembly
In office
12 January 1995 – 29 November 2001
Constituency2nd MMC - Burgas
Personal details
Born (1957-06-28) 28 June 1957 (age 67)
Sirishtnik, Bulgaria
Political partyAlternative for Bulgarian Revival (2014–present)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse Zorka Parvanova ​(m. 1983)​
ChildrenVladimir, Ivaylo
Alma materSofia University
AwardsOrder of the Southern Cross
Signature
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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 incumbent Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the November 2001 presidential election. 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 supported Bulgaria's entry into 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 15 January 2017, he stepped down as party leader and was replaced by Konstantin Prodanov.

Biography

Early years

Georgi Parvanov was born in Sirishtnik, Pernik Province on 28 June 1957 and he grew up in nearby Kosacha. In 1975 Parvanov graduated from secondary school in Pernik and in 1981 finished his undergraduate education at Sofia University, 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

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.

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). 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. 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. 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.

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

Main article: 2001 Bulgarian 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, becoming the first ex-Communist to win the presidency since 1990.

2006 presidential election

Main article: 2006 Bulgarian 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.

Second mandate

President George W. Bush and President Georgi Parvanov shake hands, 11 June 2007, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Parvanov with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sofia, 18 January 2008
Parvanov meeting with President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, on 11 November 2008
Parvanov with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, on 25 November 2009

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 order 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", and others referred to ABV as an "officially frozen project".

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.

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. That was confirmed by two members of parliamentary commissions that had examined the files of the Security Service earlier — Bogomil Bonev and Veselin Angelov. 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.

Iraq Oil for Food program (1998)

The report of the Special Commission of the United Nations into the misconduct 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. 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. 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 donations through SMS and bank transfers.

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.


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

Parvanov with the Heydar Aliyev Order.

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 et al. 2009, p. 497.
  4. ^ Lilov 2013, p. 247.
  5. http://www.isoc.bg/index_en.html
  6. Lilov 2013, p. 265.
  7. "I Have Been Labeled Traitor 17 Y Ago to Data". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  8. Prodanov et al. 2009, p. 498.
  9. Lilov 2013, p. 257.
  10. "Агенция БГНЕС – Първанов направи неуспешен рестарт на проекта АБВ". Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  11. "Първанов с позиция срещу Сидеров от името на АБВ | Вестник "ДУМА"". 11 January 2014.
  12. Lilov 2013, p. 256.
  13. ^ "mediapool.bg : Parvanov admitted about Gotse" (in Bulgarian). mediapool.bg. 23 June 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  14. "Parvanov should resign" (in Bulgarian). sedembg.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  15. Recknagel, Charles (8 April 2008). "Iraq: Report That Hussein Bribed Foreign Leaders Sparks Denials, Calls For Investigations". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  16. "The Bulgarian Christmas". bgkoleda.bg. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  17. "parvanova – Synonyms for parvanova | Synonyms of parvanova". synonymsbot.com. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  18. Georgi Pırvanovun "Heydər Əliyev" ordeni ilə təltif edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikası Prezidentinin Sərəncamı. president.az
  19. Belgian Royal Family Website, State visit in Bulgaria (2003), Photo Archived 24 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  20. "Modtagere af danske dekorationer". kongehuset.dk (in Danish). 12 December 2017. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  21. "Vabariigi President". president.ee. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  22. "Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentė". grybauskaite1.lrp.lt. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  23. Prime Minister of Malta Website, Honorary Appointments to the National Order of Merit Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  24. Nomination by Sovereign Ordonnance n° 16518 of 26 November 2004 (French)
  25. "Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer". kongehuset.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  26. Boletín Oficial del Estado
  27. "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS – Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas". ordens.presidencia.pt. Retrieved 22 August 2019.

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:

  • 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

Political offices
Preceded byPetar Stoyanov President of Bulgaria
2002–2012 		Succeeded byRosen Plevneliev
Heads of state of Bulgaria (since 1946)
People's Republic of Bulgaria Bulgaria
Republic of Bulgaria
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