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

BTA is publishing 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 was provided by the respective party/coalition.

A total of 31 candidates' lists of 20 parties and 11 coalitions have been registered by the Vidin 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 (TISP) Party: Milen Milchev. Born 1980. Holds a master's degree in commerce and finance from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia. Many-time national and Balkan champion in sambo; medallist from European sambo championships. Former finance director of Vidin Municipality. Served two terms as municipal councillor in Vidin;
2. Glas Naroden (People's Voice) Party: Ivailo Tsekov;
3. Blue Bulgaria Coalition (nine 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): Vili Lilkov. Born in Vidin in 1955. A physicist and politician. Teaches at the University of Mining and Geology in Sofia. Co-founder of the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party (2004). Has served four terms as a municipal councillor in Sofia, including as deputy chair of the Municipal Council. A member of the National Assembly between 2014 and 2017;
4. We the Citizens Coalition (three parties: Bulgarian Spring; Competence, Responsibility and Truth (KOI); Bulgarian Workers'-Peasants' Party): Dimitar Stamenov;
5. No registered list of candidates;
6. Bulgarian Voice Party: Georgi Georgiev;
7. Rose Coalition (three parties: Bulgarian Social Democracy - EuroLeft; United Labour Bloc Bulgarian Labourists; Rodolyubie 2000): Todor Yankulov. Born in Plovdiv in 1977. Holds a master's degree in law from South-West University in Blagoevgrad. Runs a law office specializing in civil law (contract law, property law and commercial law, among other subtypes);
8. Centre Coalition (two parties: Svoboda [Freedom]; Bulgarian Agrarian Party): Valeri Vikentiev;
9. Bulgarian Solidarity Coalition (three parties: Rise Up Bulgaria; Bulgarian Left; United Social Democracy): Georgi Kadiev. Born in Burgas in 1966. Holds a master's degree in: international relations (specializing in relations with Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations; diplomatic studies and international relations from the University of Leicester (UK); and public administration from Harvard Kennedy School. Worked at the Harvard Institute of International Development in 1999. Executive director for Analysis Europe, Asia, Africa and a member of the Board of Directors at Internet Securities Inc. and Euromoney Holdings plc (2000-2004). Deputy minister of finance (2005-2007). Sat on the Sofia Municipal Council (2007-2013). A member of the 40th and 42nd National Assembly;
10. Edinenie (Unity) Party: Vihren Ivanov. Studied at the Technical University of Ruse. Finished a postgraduate course at the University of California, Davis. Has been engaged in fruit growing for 20 years. Grows cherries and morello cherries using organic techniques on a total area of 40 hectares. A well-known veteran ultramarathon runner;
11. Bulgarian National Alliance (BNO) Party: Veselin Mikov;
12. Vazrazhdane Party: Vera Alexandrova. Born in Belogradchik in 1973. A member of the 49th National Assembly;
13. Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) Party: Nikolai Radulov. Born in Sofia in 1956. An expert in national security. Studied public order and security management at the Interior Ministry Academy in Sofia. Successfully defends a doctoral thesis on "Governance Culture" at the Rakovski National Defence College in Sofia. Attends specialty courses in the United States and the United Kingdom. Served as secretary general of the Ministry of Interior (1997-1999) and a National Assembly deputy chair's security adviser (2005-2009). A member of the 46th National Assembly. Teaches at New Bulgarian University in Sofia;
14. Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria Coalition (4 parties: Continue the Change; VOLT; Democrats for Strong Bulgaria; Yes, Bulgaria Movement): Lyuben Ivanov. Born in Vidin in 1979. Holds a master's degree in EU law from Sofia University. Has served two consecutive terms as a member of the National Assembly; deputy chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food in the 48th National Assembly; deputy chair of the Committee on Tourism in the 49th National Assembly. Governor of Vidin Region in January-August 2022. Municipal councillor in Vidin (2015-2021);
15. The Truth and Nothing but the Truth People's Party: Stanislav Todorov;
16. Bulgarian Rise Party: Borislav Vasilev. Born in Vidin in 1962. Studied law at Sofia University. Has served as an investigator and deputy director at the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in Vidin. A practicing lawyer;
17. Civic Bloc Coalition (Radicals Bulgarian Democratic Union, Bulgarian Women's Party): Lyudmil Lyubenov;
18. Society for New Bulgaria Party: Adiel Ilieva;
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): Mihail Mikov. A law expert. Teaches at Sofia University. Chaired the 42nd National Assembly. Leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party in 2014-2016. Minister of Interior in 2008-2009;
20. Party of the Greens: Anelia Asenova;
21. Here We Come Party: Lachezar Alexiev;
22. GERB-UDF Coalition (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and Union of Democratic Forces (UDF)): Rositsa Kirova. Born in Vidin in 1970. Holds a master's degree in philology from Veliko Tarnovo University. Finished a specialty course in business management at the Technical University of Sofia. Has a career in private business management. Sat on the Vidin Municipal Council in 2006-2015. Nominated for mayor of Vidin in 2015. A member of five National Assembles, from the 45th to the 49th; deputy chair of the National Assembly (46th to 49th). Interim chair of the current (49th) National Assembly since April 25, 2024. Has sat on the National Assembly committees on energy and regional development;
23. Bulgarian National Union New Democracy Party: Manol Dimitrov;
24. BSP for Bulgaria Coalition (Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP); Ecoglasnost Political Club; Trakia Political Club): Rumen Gechev. Born in Cherven Bryag in 1956. Studied political economy at the Higher Institute of Economics (today's University of National and World Economy) in Sofia. Has taught in the same institution. Served as deputy prime minister and minister of economic development in 1995-1997. Chaired the Board of Directors of the Bank Consolidation Company from October 1996 to February 1997. A member of several National Assemblies (37th, 42nd to 46th);
25. Velichie [Grandeur] Party: Radoslav Zhivkov. Born in Belogradchik in 1975. Studied agricultural economics at the Academy of Economics in Svishtov. Has served three terms as municipal councillor in Belogradchik;
26. VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement Party: Petar Beron. A biologist and zoologist, and a well-known politician of the transition to democracy. Has participated in many expeditions and made one-man journeys to more than 80 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, and to New Guinea in Oceania. Headed the National Museum of Natural History for 12 years. Chairs the Bulgarian Federation of Speleology. Has explored more than 700 caves and has discovered new animal species. Formerly a prominent figure of Bulgarian politics. Leader of the Zashtita Union of Democratic Forces;
27. Direct Democracy Party: Bilyana Ilieva;
28. Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Party: Ivo Tsanev. Born in Ruse in 1971. Studied political science and finance. Former leader of the regional chapter of the Union of Democratic Forces in Ruse. Secretary of the Council on Security with the government of prime minister Ivan Kostov (1997-2001). A member of the 39th National Assembly between 2001 and 2004;
29. Green Movement Party: Milena Nikolova;
30. Party for Great Bulgaria: Yordan Yankov;
31. Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy (BSDD): Daniel Bozhilov;
32. Neutral Bulgaria Coalition (four parties: Communist Party of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Communist Party; Party of Bulgarian Communists; Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland): Stanislav Vasilev.