Bulgaria’s Zhelyazkov coalition government: meet the ministers

Bulgaria’s Parliament voted on January 16 to elect a government headed by Rossen Zhelyazkov, following a month of talks hosted by Boiko Borissov’s GERB-UDF coalition, which won the largest share of seats in the 51st National Assembly at the October 2024 early parliamentary elections.

The Zhelyazkov cabinet is the result of an agreement between GERB-UDF, the Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left and populist ITN, all of whom received ministerial positions. The government is also backed by Ahmed Dogan loyalists of the Democracy, Rights and Freedoms parliamentary group, without being represented in the cabinet.

This is Bulgaria’s first elected government since the Nikolai Denkov administration left office on April 9 2024, and the first GERB-led government since Borissov left office on May 11 2021. Since 2021, Bulgaria has held seven parliamentary elections, and this is only the third to produce an elected government.

The CVs of the Cabinet members are as follows, with the party quotas from which they were appointed in brackets:

Prime Minister – Rossen Zhelyazkov (GERB-UDF)
Former Speaker in the 49th National Assembly and Deputy Speaker in the 48th National Assembly, he has been elected to the National Assembly seven times on the ticket of Boiko Borissov’s GERB party. He served as Transport Minister in 2018-21 and was head of Bulgaria’s telecoms regulator in 2017-18. Holds a master’s degree in law from St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Deputy PM and Innovation and Growth Minister – Tomislav Donchev (GERB-UDF)
Returns as Deputy PM for a third time, having served in that position in the second and third Borissov cabinets, as well as EU funds minister in all three Borissov governments. Also served as mayor of Gabrovo in 2007-10 and member of European Parliament in May-November 2014. Holds master’s degrees in philosophy and business administration from St. St. Kiril and Metodi Veliko Turnovo University.

Deputy PM – Atanas Zafirov (BSP-UL)
Leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left coalition, he has been elected to the National Assembly nine times on the BSP ticket, serving as chairperson of Parliament’s defence committee in the 46th and 47th National Assemblies. Holds master’s degrees in national security from G.S. Rakovski Military Academy and finance from St. St. Kiril and Metodi Veliko Turnovo University.

Deputy PM and Transport and Communications Minister – Grozdan Karadzhov (ITN)
Former deputy PM and regional development minister in the Kiril Petkov administration in 2021-22, and was previously chief secretary of the Transport and Communications Ministry in 1997-2001 and member of Parliament in 2014-17, serving as head of Parliament’s transport committee in 2014-15. Holds a degree in law from St Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Finance Minister – Temenuzhka Petkova (GERB-UDF)
Former energy minister in the second and third Borissov administrations (2014-21), and was previously deputy finance minister in the Georgi Bliznashki caretaker cabinet in 2014, as well as head of the Public Financial Inspection Agency of the finance ministry in 2010-13. Holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia.

Foreign Minister – Georg Georgiev (GERB-UDF)
Deputy foreign minister in the third Borissov administration (2017-21), serving also as national coordinator for fighting antisemitism. He has been elected to the National Assembly six times on the GERB ticket, serving as a member of Parliament’s foreign committee in four legislatures. Holds a master’s degree in political science from St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Interior Minister – Daniel Mitov (GERB-UDF)
Former foreign minister in the Bliznashki caretaker cabinet in 2014 and Borissov’s second administration (2014-17). He has been elected to the National Assembly seven times on the GERB ticket and is also the GERB deputy leader. Holds a degree in political science from St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Defence Minister – Atanas Zapryanov (GERB-UDF)
Has held the position since April 2024, serving in the two Dimitar Glavchev caretaker cabinets. Former deputy defence minister in the Denkov administration (2023-24), the second and third Borissov administrations (2016-21). Holds the rank of lieutenant-general (reserve) and has previously served as head of Bulgaria’s G.S. Rakovski Military Academy and deputy head of the Bulgarian General Staff.

Justice Minister – Georgi Georgiev (GERB-UDF)
Former chairperson of the Sofia municipal council (2021-24), he has been elected to the National Assembly twice on the GERB ticket. A member of the bar for more than 10 years, specialising in corporate law, he has been managing partner of Georgiev, Todorov and Co. since 2018. Holds a doctorate in law from St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Labour and Social Policy Minister – Borislav Gutsanov (BSP-UL)
Former chairperson of Varna municipal council, he has been elected to the National Assembly seven times on the BSP ticket, serving as chairperson of the regional development committee in the 42nd National Assembly and transport committee in the 47th National Assembly. Holds a doctorate in security studies from G.S. Rakovski Military Academy.

Energy Minister – Zhecho Stankov (GERB-UDF)
Former deputy energy minister in the second and third Borissov administrations (2015-21), he has been elected to the National Assembly seven times on the GERB ticket. Former chairperson of Bulgarian Energy Holding. Holds a degree in economics from Universität Regensburg.

Regional Development and Public Works Minister – Ivan Ivanov (BSP-UL)
Former agriculture minister in the Kiril Petkov administration in 2021-22, he has been elected to the National Assembly 10 times on the BSP ticket and has served as an MP since 2013. Holds doctorates in history and information processes management.

Economy and Industry Minister – Petar Dilov (ITN)
A long-time lead expert at the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) in matters pertaining to Bulgaria’s efforts to join the euro zone, and a BNB representative in EUropean Central Bank. Holds a master’s degree in finance from Nottingham Trent University.

Agriculture and Food Minister – Georgi Tahov (BSP-UL)
Has held the position since April 2024, serving in the two Dimitar Glavchev caretaker cabinets. Served as head of the State Fund Agriculture in 2022-24 and was with the National Revenue Agency before that. Holds a doctorate in economics.

Environment and Water Minister – Manol Genov (BSP-UL)
Head of BSP’s party organisation in Plovdiv, he has been elected to the National Assembly eight times on its ticket. Served repeatedly on Parliament’s environment committee, including as its chairperson in 2021-22. Holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Business Academy in Svishtov.

Health Minister – Silvi Kirilov (ITN)
Medical doctor specialising in urology, with more than 46 years of experience, including as head of three different hospitals and the executive agency for transplantations. Holds a medical doctor degree from the Medical University in Sofia.

Education and Science Minister – Krassimir Valchev (GERB-UDF)
Former education minister in the third Borissov administration (2027-21) and chief secretary of the education ministry in 2009-17. Has held expert positions in the finance and foreign ministries. Holds a master’s degree in finance from Varna Economic University.

Electronic Governance Minister – Valentin Mundrov (GERB-UDF)
Has held the position since April 2024, serving in the two Dimitar Glavchev caretaker cabinets, and was also deputy e-government minister in the Denkov cabinet. Holds master’s degrees in industrial engineering from the Technical University in Sofia and e-government from the St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Tourism Minister – Miroslav Borshosh (GERB-UDF)
Former member of the Sofia municipal council (2023-25), serving as chairperson of the council’s education and culture committee, and deputy mayor of Sofia for culture (2021-23). Holds a degree in culturology from the St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Culture Minister – Mariyan Bachev (ITN)
Prolific theatre and voice actor and contributor to ITN founder Slavi Trifonov’s talk show. Holds a degree in acting from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia.

Youth and Sport Minister – Ivan Peshev (BSP-UL)
Former member of the Sofia municipal council (2019-25), serving at different times on the council’s economics, healthcare, environment and youth and sports committees. Holds a degree in economics from the Business Academy in Svishtov.

(Photos: government.bg)

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