site.btaTop-of-the-list Candidates: 24th Constituency in Sofia

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 32 parties and coalitions are registered for the June 9 snap parliamentary elections in the 24th multi-member constituency in Sofia, according to the Constituency Election Commission. 

1. There Is Such a People:  Ivaylo Valchev (also in Burgas). Born in Burgas in 1972. Graduated in Bulgarian Language and Literature from Sofia University. Has worked in television for nearly 30 years, mostly as scriptwriter. MP in the 45th, 46th and 49th National Assemblies;
2. Glas Naroden [People's Voice] Party:   Mihail Genadiev (also in Blagoevgrad). Aged 26. Bachelor of sport management from the National Sport Academy and Master of business administration from Sofia University. Currently employed in a private company.
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): Petar Moskov. Born 1970. Graduated in medicine in Sofia and specialized in France, the UK, Spain and the US. Formerly a ranking member of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria. Former health minister. Former member of Parliament. 
4. We the Citizens Coalition (3 parties: Bulgarian Spring; Competence, Responsibility and Truth (KOI); Bulgarian Workers'-Peasants' Party): Hristo Lafchiev;
5. No registered list of candidates;
6. Bulgarian Voice Party:   Julian Andreev. Born in 1988. Bachelor of business administration and currently studying for a master’s degree in national security. An entrepreneur, and activists, volunteered during flood relief efforts in Karlovo;
7. Rose Coalition (3 parties: Bulgarian Social Democracy - EuroLeft; United Labour Bloc Bulgarian Labourists; Rodolyubie 2000):   Nikola Vuchev. Graduated from the Higher Institute of Chemical Technologies in Sofia. Has served as director at Toplivo AD;
8. Centre Coalition  (2 parties: Svoboda [Freedom]; Bulgarian Agrarian Party):  Dr Darin Drossev. Graduated from the American University in Bulgaria with degrees in political science and management. Later earned a master’s degree and PhD from Sofia University. A long-serving professor of Logic and Philosophy at Sofia University; 
9. Bulgarian Solidarity Coalition:   Alexander Sivilov. A historian, professor at Sofia University;
10. Edinenie [Unity] Party:  Ivan Manev. Born in 1974. An MP in the 47th National Assembly on the Continue the Change ticket. An economist by training;
11. Bulgarian National Alliance (BNO) Party:  Dimitar Bunov. An expert in health management, has served as hospital manager. Holds a university degree in health management;
12. Vazrazhdane Party:   Petar Petrov.  Born in 1983. Deputy floor leader of Vazrazhdane in the 49th National Assembly. Also sat in the 47th National Assembly;
13. Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) Party:   Nikola Naydenov. A programmer, trained in Nottingham and later specialized at unspecified universities in Europe;
14. Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria Coalition (4 parties: Continue the Change; VOLT; Democrats for Strong Bulgaria; Yes, Bulgaria Movement):   Hristo Ivanov. Chair of the Yes, Bulgaria! Party which is part of Democratic Bulgaria. Graduated in law from Sofia University and specialized in the US. Served as programme director of the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives. Floor leader of Democratic Bulgaria in 45th through 48th National Assembly, and also sat in the 49th National Assembly. Served as Justice Minister in 2014-2015 in the second Boyko Borissov Cabinet and later in the Georgi Bliznashki Cabinet;
15. The Truth and Nothing but the Truth People's Party:   Stanislav Todorov;
16. Bulgarian Rise Party:   Stefan Yanev. Born in 1960. An officer of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Served in the international cooperation department of the Defence Ministry in 1996-98; analysis officer at the PfP Coordination Group's Planning and Programming Department in Belgium in 1998–2000; senior assistant chief in the Strategic Planning Department of the General Staff of the Bularian Armed Forces in 2000-01; state expert at the Euro-Atlantic Integration Directorate in the Ministry of Defence in 2001-02; head of a department in the Euro-Atlantic Integration Directorate in the Defence Ministry in 2002-04; defence attache at the Bulgarian Embassy in the US; Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister in January – May 2017; Caretaker Prime Minister in May – December 2021; MP in the 48th National Assembly. Founder of Bulgarian Rise;
17. Civic Bloc Coalition (Radicals Bulgarian Democratic Union, Bulgarian Women's Party): Nikola Iliev;
18. Society for New Bulgaria Party:   Dian Karaivanov;
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):  Plamena Zayachka. Holds PhD in cultural studies from Sofia University. Deputy leader of ABV;
20. Party of the Greens:   Valentin Simov. Born in 1953. Bachelor of political sociology and master of public administration. Founder of the Greens Party in 2001 and later elected as its leader. Currently serves as the party’s speaker and deputy leader of the Green Alliance association; 
21. Here We Come Party:   Maria Cappone. Born in 1969. Chair of Here We Come party. Graduated in economics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and later specialized in Germany, France, Japan and the US. Member of the 40th, 45th and 46th National Assembly;
22. GERB-UDF Coalition (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and Union of Democratic Forces (UDF)):   Raya Nazaryan. Born in 1985. A lawyer by training and practice. Deputy floor leader of GERB-UDF in the 49th National Assembly. Also sat in the 48th National Assembly;
23. Bulgarian National Union New Democracy Party:   Elena Vatashka; 
24. BSP for Bulgaria Coalition (Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP); Ecoglasnost Political Club; Trakia Political Club):   Georgi Svilenski. Born 1970. An engineer by training. MP in eight parliaments (42nd through 49th);
25. Velichie [Grandeur] Party:   Etien Levi. Born in 1977. Graduated from the National Music Academy to become one of the best known Bulgarian pop music performers. Currently a professor at New Bulgarian University, the National Music Academy and Sofia University;
26. VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement Party:  Carlos Contrera. Born 1987. Graduated in law from Sofia University. Has served for two mandates as municipal councilor in Sofia; 
27. Direct Democracy Party:   Krassimir Stoyanov;
28. Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Party: Ediz Zaidov. Doctor of administration and management from the International Higher Business School in Sofia. Served as parliamentary associate for youth policies from 2014 to 2022;
29. Green Movement Party:   Toma Belev. Graduated in forestry and serves as an expert in environmental protection at the Association of Parks in Bulgaria. An activist of the For the Nature coalition of environmental organizations. Participated in establishing the Natura 2000 programme in Bulgaria. Has served as municipal councilor in the Democratic Bulgaria group. Currently co-chairs the Green Movement;
30. Party for Great Bulgaria:   Svetozar Stefanov;
31. Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy (BSDD):   Georgi Nedelchev. An engineer and economist by training. Also holds a degree in intellectual property law. Teaches integrated market communications. BSDD co-founder and activist for direct democracy. Volunteer in the Bulgarian Huntington Association and in Positivemoney.org. Editor of AgoraPost.bg; 
32. Neutral Bulgaria Coalition (4 parties: Communist Party of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Communist Party; Party of Bulgarian Communists; Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland):   Rumen Georgiev. Horticulturalist and economist by training. MP in the 44th national Assembly.