site.btaTop-of-the-list Candidates: Shumen

BTA will publish the names of the top-of-the-list candidates of every party for all constituencies for the June 9 parliamentary elections. The information about the candidates is provided by the respective party/coalition, the candidates themselves and other official sources of information.

A total of 31 parties and coalitions have registered candidates’ lists in the Shumen Constituency Election Commission.

The order follows the sequential numbers on the ballots, as drawn by the Central Election Commission:

1. There Is Such a People: Ivaylo Kostadinov (aged 28). Holds a degree from the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna, as well as three master’s degrees in Logistics, Public Management and Administrative Power, and Entrepreneurship. Has developed two start-up companies and is among TISP’s founders;
2. Glas Naroden [People's Voice] Party: Borislav Marinov;
3. Blue Bulgaria Coalition (9 parties: Conservative Alliance of the Right (KOD); Bulgarian Democratic Forum; Democratic Action Movement; National Movement for Stability and Upsurge; Bulgaria of the Citizens Movement; Conservative Bulgaria Party; Radical Democratic Party in Bulgaria; Bulgarian New Democracy Party; Agrarian People's Union): Borislav Borisov. Born 1961. Served as a border police officer between 1979 and 1981. Graduated in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Varna. Private entrepreneur.
4. We the Citizens Coalition (3 parties: Bulgarian Spring; Competence, Responsibility and Truth (KOI); Bulgarian Workers'-Peasants' Party): Rumen Sakelarov;
5. No registered list of candidates;
6. Bulgarian Voice Party: Diyan Yordanov;
7. Rose Coalition (3 parties: Bulgarian Social Democracy - EuroLeft; United Labour Bloc Bulgarian Labourists; Rodolyubie 2000): Sergey Indzhov;
8. Centre Coalition (2 parties: Svoboda [Freedom]; Bulgarian Agrarian Party): Yordan Yordanov;
9. Bulgarian Solidarity Coalition: Maya Manolova. Born 1965. Lawyer. Chairperson of the Stand Up.BG civil organization. MP in the 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 45th and 46th National Assemblies;
10. Edinenie [Unity] Party: Nedko Kolev;
11. Bulgarian National Alliance (BNO) Party: Panayot Panayotov;
12. Vazrazhdane Party: Veselin Veshev (aged 53). Graduated from an agricultural technical school. For many years Veshev was involved in sports as a coach, competitor and referee. Multiple champion and record holder in bench press and powerlifting. Graduated from the University of Chemical Technology in Sofia. MP in the 49th National Assembly;
13. Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) Party: Nikola Todorov;
14. Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria Coalition (4 parties: Continue the Change; VOLT; Democrats for Strong Bulgaria; Yes, Bulgaria Movement): Acad. Nikolay Denkov. Prime Minister in the last government (June 2023 to March 2024). Graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. Professor of physical chemistry, Ph.D., D.Sc., Corresponding Member of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Member of the European Academy of Sciences "Academia Europea" and of the European Space Agency's Physical Sciences Expert Group. Ranked among the top 2% of the world's best scientists by Stanford University. Deputy Minister of Education and Science in charge of higher education and the European Structural Funds between August 2014 and April 2016. Caretaker Minister of Education and Science from May to December 2021. Minister of Education and Science in the government of Kiril Petkov from December 2021 to August 2022. Member of the 48th and 49th National Assembly; 
15. The Truth and Nothing but the Truth People's Party: Radka Dusheva;
16. Bulgarian Rise Party: Prof. (Col.) Sasho Evlogiev. Born 1960. Holds degrees from the Vasil Levski National Military University and the Rakovski Military Academy. A professor at the Vasil Levski National Military University with many years of experience. Coordinator of the Bulgarian Rise Party in Shumen Region;
17. Civic Bloc Coalition (Radicals Bulgarian Democratic Union, Bulgarian Women's Party): Anatoli Strelkov;
18. Society for New Bulgaria Party: Rumen Rusev;
19. The Left! Coalition (ABV (Alternative for Bulgarian Revival), Movement 21, Green Party, Alexander Stamboliiski Agrarian Party, National Movement for Salvation of the Fatherland, Social Democrats Political Movement): Dimitar Kovchazov. Electrical engineer;
20. Party of the Greens: Vasko Yotov;
21. Here We Come Party: Yasen Stoychev;
22. GERB-UDF Coalition (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and Union of Democratic Forces (UDF)): Lyubomir Hristov. Coordinator of GERB in Shumen Region. Holds a degree from the Vasil Levski National Military University. Trained at the Higher Institute for Police Officer Training and Scientific Research for the Needs of the Ministry of Interior in Sofia, the FBI School in Budapest and the Police Academy in New Mexico, US. Former director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Shumen (2010-2013). Former mayor of Shumen (2015-2023). MP in the 42nd and 43rd National Assemblies;
23. Bulgarian National Union New Democracy Party: Velyo Ivanov;
24. BSP for Bulgaria Coalition (Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP); Ecoglasnost Political Club; Trakia Political Club): Borislav Gutsanov. Born 1967. Engineer. Speaks English and Russian. MP in the 42nd, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th and 49th National Assemblies. Chairperson of the Executive Bureau of the Regional Council of BSP for Bulgaria in Varna;
25. Velichie [Grandeur] Party: Greta Nyagulova-Stefanova;
26. VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement Party: Ivaylo Shopski;
27. Direct Democracy Party: Yordan Lazarov;
28. Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Party: Aysel Rufad. Born 1979. Holds a master’s degree in Turkish Philology from the Bishop Konstantin Preslavski University of Shumen. MRF Deputy Chairperson. Chairperson of MRF’s regional structure in Shumen. Deputy Mayor of the municipality of Novi Pazar since 2016;
29. Green Movement Party: Svilen Stoychev;
30. Party for Great Bulgaria: Orlin Parvulov;
31. Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy (BSDD): Nedelcho Nedelchev;
32. Neutral Bulgaria Coalition (4 parties: Communist Party of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Communist Party; Party of Bulgarian Communists; Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland): Ivaylo Ivanov.