site.btaWho's Who: Top MEP Candidates of Bulgarian Parties, Coalitions

Thirty-one Bulgarian parties and coalitions and one independent candidate have been registered to run in the European Parliament elections on June 9, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC) website. Bulgaria will elect 17 MEPs.

The information about the leading candidates is provided by the respective party/coalition, the candidates themselves and other official sources of information. 

The order follows the sequential numbers on the ballots, as drawn by the CEC:

1. There Is Such a People: Ivaylo Valchev. Born 1972. Holds a degree in Bulgarian Studies from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. 30 years’ experience in the TV industry as scriptwriter, host, and producer. MP in the 45th, 46th, and 49th National Assemblies;

2. Glas Naroden [People's Voice] Party: Svetoslav Vitkov. Born 1971. Holds a degree in Economics from Sofia’s University of National and World Economy. Author of music, lyrics, and books. Owns a producer and publishing company. Member of the Sofia Municipal Council from Glas Naroden, 2015-2019;

3. Blue Bulgaria Coalition: Tsveta Kirilova. Born 1978. Holds a Master’s degree in National Security and Defence from G.S. Rakovski National Defence College and in Mass Communications Management from New Bulgarian University. Has worked as a journalist; 

4. We the Citizens Coalition: Plamen Paskov. Born 1965. Graduated from the Higher Institute of Zootechnics and Veterinary Medicine. Veterinarian, public activist and politician; 

5. Independent: Kuzman Iliev. Economic and political analyst;

6. Bulgarian Voice Party: Georgi Popov. Politician, lawyer, poet, artist, and founder and leader of the Bulgarian Voice Party. Has served as MP in two National Assemblies;

7. Rose Coalition: Aleksandar Tomov. Born 1954. Graduated from Sofia University of National and World Economy and Mikhail Lomonosov University of St Petersburg. Аssociate professor of economics. Elected Member of the Seventh Grand National Assembly,  June 1990. Founder of the Civil Union for the Republic Movement in 1993, later Bulgarian Euro-Left Party. Appointed director of the EastWest Institute in New York, 1995;

8. Centre Coalition: Vassil Bojkov. Born 1956. Holds Master’s degrees in mathematics and economics from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, the University of National and World Economy, and the University in Buenos Aires. Main shareholder in the biggest gambling companies in Bulgaria. Founder of the Thrace Foundation for popularizing and preserving the world cultural and historical heritage and of a private museum;

9. Bulgarian Solidarity Coalition: Vanya Grigorova. Former trade unionist and economic adviser to the President of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour. Came in second in the 2023 local elections in Sofia, running on BSP for Bulgaria’s ticket. Member of the Sofia Municipal Council of the BSP for Bulgaria Local Coalition group;

10. Еdinenie [Unity] Party: Yani Andreev. Runs a small-scale family farm. Has appeared in the TV show The Farm;

11. Bulgarian National Alliance (BNO) Party: Dimitar Bunov;

12. Vazrazhdane Party: Stanislav Stoyanov. Born 1981. Business analyst. MP in the 48th and 49th National Assemblies;

13. Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) Party: Radostin Vasilev. Born 1985. Master’s degree in Law from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Legal expert with experience in civil law and legal regulation of sport. MP in the 45th and 46th National Assembly of There Is Such a People. MP in 47th, 48th and 49th National Assembly from Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria. Left the coalition in May 2023;

14. Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria Coalition: Nikola Minchev. Born 1987. Holds a Master’s degree in Law from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Lawyer. Chair of the 47th National Assembly, Deputy Chair of the 48th and 49th National Assemblies; 

15. The Truth and Nothing but the Truth People's Party: Ventsislav Angelov;

16. Bulgarian Rise Party: Daniela Vezieva. Master's degree in Finance and Credit from the Dimitar A. Tsenov Academy of Economics. PhD in Economics from Vasil Levski National Military University in Veliko Tarnovo. Represented Bulgaria in the Budgetary Committee of the European Schools, 2007 - 2014. Deputy Minister of Economy, November 2014 - February 2017. Caretaker Minister of Economy, 2021;

17. Civic Bloc Coalition: Ivan Geshev. Degree in Law from the Interior Ministry’s Higher Institute. Over 30 years of experience at the Interior Ministry, investigating magistracy, and prosecution service. Prosecutor General from 2019 to 2023;

18. Society for New Bulgaria Party: Dimitar Toshev.

19. The Left! Coalition: Valeri Zhablyanov. Born 1965. Has served as MP in several National Assemblies. Deputy Chair of the 44th National Assembly from BSP for Bulgaria;

20. Party of the Greens: Todor Angelov. Has studied Economic Management in Vienna and International Economic Relations at the University of National and World Economy. Has managed private energy companies in Bulgaria. Owner of a company in the energy sector;

21. Here We Come Party: Nikolay Hadzhigenov. Born 1971. Holds a Master’s degree in law from New Bulgarian University. Over 20 years of experience as lawyer in criminal law and intellectual property law. Civil activist and human rights champion. MP in the 45th and 46th National Assembly;

22. GERB-UDF Coalition: Rosen Zhelyazkov. Born 1968. Graduated in Law from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Long-term practice as lawyer. Has served as Secretary of Sofia Municipality, 2003-2009, and as chief secretary of the Council of Ministers, 2009 -2011. Minister of Transport, IT and Communications, 2018 - 2021. MP in the 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th and 49th National Assemblies. Parliament Chair, April 19, 2023 - April 25, 2024;

23. Bulgarian National Union New Democracy Party: Boyan Rasate;

24. BSP for Bulgaria Coalition: Kristian Vigenin. Born 1975. Economist and expert in international relations. Served as an MEP and as Foreign Minister, 2013-2014. Deputy Chair of the 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th and 49th National Assemblies;

25. Velichie [Grandeur] Party: Nikolay Markov. Master’s degree from Vasil Levski National Military University in Veliko Tarnovo. Has worked as an officer in the  national security system; has professional experience in countering organized crime and terrorist threats. Senior officer rank by the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Tenured lecturer at New Bulgarian University;

26. VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement Party: Angel Dzhambazki. Born 1979. Master’s degree in Law from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Legal expert. MEP in two European Parliaments and member of the Sofia Municipal Council, 2007-2014;

27. Direct Democracy Party: Petar Klisarov. Born 1972;

28. Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Party: Dzhevdet Chakarov. Born 1960. Holds a degree in Medicine from the Plovdiv Medical University. Has worked as a surgeon. Earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in 2015. Founding MRF member and a member of the party’s Central Operational Bureau since 1996. MP in the 39th, 40th, 42nd and 49th National Assemblies. Environment and water minister, 2005-2009. Has served as Vice President and member of the Liberal International’s Bureau. One of the two MRF chairperson since February 2024;

29. Green Movement Party: Borislav Sandov. Born 1982. Has studied at the Faculty of Geology and Geography of St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Co-founder of the Green Movement in 2008, has served as its co-leader, and currently member of its Executive Council. MP in the 45th and 46th National Assemblies from Democratic Bulgaria. Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Policies and Minister of Environment and Water, 2021-2022;

30. Party for Great Bulgaria: Valeri Grigorov;

31. Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy (BSDD): Daniel Bozhilov. Born 1971. Legal expert with 20 years' experience in public administration and 12 years in the private sector.