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

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 have been registered by the Varna Constituency Election Commission. 466 candidates are competing for 16 seats.

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

1. There Is Such a People Party: Toshko Yordanov Hadzhitodorov. Born in 1970. Works as a staff writer. MP in 45th, 46th, 47th and 49th National Assemblies;
2. Glas Naroden (People's Voice) Party: Vesselin Belokonski;
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): Nasko Rafailov. Born in Varna. Studied at the local Economic University before joining the Interior Ministry. Has served as an officer at the Varna prison for repeat offenders; director of the Varna Regional Directorate of the Interior for two years. MP in the 39th National Assembly. Co-author of a concept for reforms in the security services;
4. We the Citizens Coalition (three parties: Bulgarian Spring; Competence, Responsibility and Truth (KOI); Bulgarian Workers'-Peasants' Party): Svetozar Saev;
5. No registered list of candidates;
6. Bulgarian Voice Party: Diyan Assenov;
7. Rose Coalition (three parties: Bulgarian Social Democracy - EuroLeft; United Labour Bloc Bulgarian Labourists; Rodolyubie 2000): Sergei Indjov. Born in Karlovo. Studied at the Odesa Polytechnical Institute. Worked at the Institute of Optics and Laser Technologies in Sofia before starting his own business in the production of medical equipment. Currently manages the Varna branch of a large international company, has 100 people under him;
8. Centre Coalition (two parties: Svoboda [Freedom]; Bulgarian Agrarian Party): Deyan Gospodinov;
9. Bulgarian Solidarity Coalition (three parties: Rise Up Bulgaria; Bulgarian Left; United Social Democracy): Dimitar Kostadinov. Born in Varna. Graduated in acting from the Sofia Theatre of Film and Theatrical Art. Had an acting career of 13 years. Then earned master’s degree in entrepreneurship and economics, and in performing arts, management and production. Owns a businesses in construction and catering. The Varna coordinator of Stand up. BG;
10. Edinenie (Unity) Party: Iliya Kostadinov;
11. Bulgarian National Alliance (BNO) Party: Alexander Atanassov;
12. Vazrazhdane Party: Kostadin Kostadinov. Born on April 1, 1979. Graduated in Balkan studies from the University of Veliko Tarnovo in 2002. Master’s degree in law from the same university in 2011. PhD from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. MP in the 47th, 48th and 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): Daniel Lorer. Born in Sofia in 1976. Studied computer science and business administration in Tel Aviv. Sat in the 47th, 48th and 49th National Assembly. One of the founders of Continue the Change. Served as Innovations and Growth Minister from December 2021 to August 2022;
15. The Truth and Nothing but the Truth People's Party: Darina Todorova;
16. Bulgarian Rise Party: Diyan Draganov. Lawyer by training, an expert in road safety. Graduated from the Varna Open University with a degree in law. Heads the Varna chapter of the Union of Bulgarian Motorists;
17. Civic Bloc Coalition (Radicals Bulgarian Democratic Union, Bulgarian Women's Party): Mladen Stanev. Born in Balchik in 1962. Graduated from the military construction school in Sofia. Specialized at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. Started own business in the food industry and farming. An activists with close contacts with Bulgarian communities abroad;
18. Society for New Bulgaria Party: Boyana Yordanova. Holds a master’s degree in geography, regional development and tourism from the Blagoevgrad University; a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology from the Varna Medical University; and two more master’s degrees from Shumen University: in innovation in elementary education, and innovation in pre-school education. Works at a kindergarten. Actively involved in charitable events and campaigns;
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): Ivan Ivanov. Born in 1965. Graduated in Bulgarian language and literature from the Shumen University. Worked for the Interior Ministry in 1994-2008 before starting his own business. Served as municipal councilor in Varna in 2015-17. Sat in the 44th National Assembly in the BSP for Bulgaria group. From 2021 to present, he has been in the private sector (catering and other businesses);
20. Party of the Greens: Dimitar Dimitrov. Born in Provadia. Graduated in tourism from Shumen University and journalism from Plovdiv University. Currently studies ecology at Shumen University. Works as a journalist. Environmental activists. Leader of Greens NGO;
21. Here We Come Party: Arman Babikyan. Born in 1967. Marketing and PR expert. Studied at Sofia University. Specialized in Radio Management at Fredonia University in New York State, USA. In 2012 he received an award for civic contribution, awarded for the 20th anniversary of the Open Society Club - Varna. Worked as a journalist at the Bulgarian National Radio and Radio Free Europe. Member of the 45th and 46th parliaments;
22. GERB-UDF Coalition (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and Union of Democratic Forces (UDF)): Daniel Mitov. Born in 1977. Graduated in political sciences from Sofia University. Served as Executive Director of Democracy Foundation (since 2006). Foreign Minister in the caretaker government of Georgi Bliznashki and the second government of Boyko Borissov;
23. Bulgarian National Union New Democracy Party: Naum Naumov;
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: Juliana Mateeva. Born in Varna. Graduated in law from the Varna Technical University. Professor of criminal law at Varna Open University and the Southwestern University in Blagoevgrad. Member of the Varna Bar;
26. VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement Party: Andrey Slabakov. Director, screenwriter, and actor. Born 1960. Graduated in Directing from the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts. MEP since July 2, 2019;
27. Direct Democracy Party: Ivan Kazakov. Born in 1964 in Varna. Graduated from high school of ship building and specialized in this field in the UK. His last job was an officer in a passenger ship. Now he is a retiree;
28. Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Party: Filiz Hyusmenova. Born in Silistra in 1966. MP in 39th, 40th and 49th National Assembly. Elected MEP in 2014. Sat in the EP until 2019, was deputy floor leader of the ALDE group;
29. Green Movement Party: Ilian Iliev. Bornin Kaspichan in 1969. Holds master's degree in ecology from Varna Technical University. Works as free-lance consultant on environmental matters. Chair of the Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development;
30. Party for Great Bulgaria: Andrey Vahovski;
31. Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy (BSDD): Deyan Alexandrov. Born in 1968. A urologist. Heads the urology unit of a Varna hospital;
32. Neutral Bulgaria Coalition (four parties: Communist Party of Bulgaria; Bulgarian Communist Party; Party of Bulgarian Communists; Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland): Nikolai Petkov. Born in 1954. Graduated from the Varna Naval Academy as a ship mechanic. Worked at the Georgi Dimitrov shipyard. After 1989 he chaired the Varna Municipal Council. Member of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party. A retiree.