List of heads of state of Bulgaria

This is a list of the heads of the modern Bulgarian state, from the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria to the present day.

It also lists the general secretaries of the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1948–1990. From 1948 onwards, the general secretary was the country's de facto chief executive.

PrinceReignHouseClaim
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Reign startReign endDuration
Alexander I
Александър I
1857–1893
(Lived: 36 years)
29 April 18797 September 1886
(Abdicated)
7 years, 131 daysBattenbergElected by the First Grand National Assembly
Ferdinand I
Фердинанд I
1861–1948
(Lived: 87 years)
7 July 18875 October 190821 years, 90 daysSaxe-Coburg and Gotha-KoháryElected by the Third Grand National Assembly
  Denotes Regent
TsarReignHouseClaim
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Reign startReign endDuration
Ferdinand I
Фердинанд I
1861–1948
(Lived: 87 years)
5 October 19083 October 1918
(Abdicated)
9 years, 363 daysSaxe-Coburg and Gotha-KoháryProclaimed himself as Tsar
Boris III
Борис III
1894–1943
(Lived: 49 years)
3 October 191828 August 1943
(Died)
24 years, 329 daysSaxe-Coburg and Gotha-KohárySon of Ferdinand I
Simeon II
Симеон II
Born 1937
(87 years old)
28 August 194315 September 1946
(Monarchy abolished)
3 years, 18 daysSaxe-Coburg and Gotha-KohárySon of Boris III
Kiril, Prince of Preslav
Кирил, принц Преславски
1895–1945
(Lived: 49 years)
28 August 19439 September 1944
(Deposed)
1 year, 12 daysSaxe-Coburg and Gotha-KoháryFirst Regency Council
For Simeon II
Bogdan Filov
Богдан Филов
1883–1945
(Lived: 61 years)
Lt. General
Nikola Mihov
Никола Михов
1891–1945
(Lived: 53 years)
Todor Pavlov
Тодор Павлов
1890–1977
(Lived: 87 years)
9 September 194415 September 1946
(Monarchy abolished)
2 years, 6 daysSecond Regency Council
For Simeon II
Venelin Ganev
Венелин Ганев
1880–1966
(Lived: 86 years)
Tsvetko Boboshevski
Цвятко Бобошевски
1884–1952
(Lived: 68 years)
Status
  Denotes Acting Head of State
Head of StateTerm of officeDurationPolitical party
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTook officeLeft office
Chairman of the Provisional Presidency
Vasil Kolarov
Васил Коларов
1877–1950
(Lived: 72 years)
15 September 19469 December 19471 year, 85 daysBCP
Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly
Mincho Neychev
Минчо Нейчев
1887–1956
(Lived: 69 years)
9 December 194727 May 19502 years, 169 daysBCP
Georgi Damyanov
Георги Дамянов
1892–1958
(Lived: 66 years)
27 May 195027 November 1958†8 years, 184 daysBCP
Georgi Kulishev
Георги Кулишев
1885–1974
(Lived: 89 years)
27 November 195830 November 19583 daysBCP
Nikolay Georgiev [bg]
Николай Георгиев
1906–1987
(Lived: 81 years)
BANU
Dimitar Ganev
Димитър Ганев
1898–1964
(Lived: 65 years)
30 November 195820 April 1964†5 years, 142 daysBCP
Georgi Kulishev
Георги Кулишев
1885–1974
(Lived: 89 years)
20 April 196423 April 19643 daysBCP
Nikolay Georgiev [bg]
Николай Георгиев
1906–1987
(Lived: 81 years)
BANU
Georgi Traykov
Георги Трайков
1898–1975
(Lived: 76 years)
23 April 19647 July 19717 years, 75 daysBANU
Chairman of the State Council
Todor Zhivkov
Тодор Живков
1911–1998
(Lived: 86 years)
7 July 197117 November 198918 years, 133 daysBCP
Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)
17 November 19893 April 1990137 daysBCP
Chairman (President) of the Republic
Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)
(Apr) 19903 April 19906 July 199094 daysBSP
Stanko Todorov
Станко Тодоров
1920–1996
(Lived: 76 years)
6 July 199017 July 199011 daysBSP
Nikolai Todorov
Николай Тодоров
1921–2003
(Lived: 82 years)
17 July 19901 August 199015 daysBSP
Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)
(Jul–Aug) 19901 August 199015 November 1990106 daysUDF

General Secretaries of the Bulgarian Communist Party (1948–1990)

edit
General SecretaryTerm of officeNotes
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Took officeLeft officeDuration
Georgi Dimitrov
Георги Димитров
1882–1949
(Lived: 67 years)
27 December 19482 July 1949187 daysAlso Prime Minister (1946–1949)
Valko Chervenkov
Вълко Червенков
1900–1980
(Lived: 80 years)
2 July 19494 March 19544 years, 245 daysAlso Prime Minister (1950–1956)
Todor Zhivkov
Тодор Живков
1911–1998
(Lived: 86 years)
4 March 195410 November 198935 years, 251 daysAlso Prime Minister (1962–1971), and Chairman of the Council of State (1971–1989)
Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)
10 November 19892 February 199084 daysAlso Chairman of the Council of State (1989–1990)

Republic of Bulgaria (1990–present)

edit
PresidentTerm of officeDurationPolitical party
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTook officeLeft office
Chairman (President) of the Republic
Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)
(Jul-Aug) 199015 November 199022 January 19921 year, 68 daysSDS
President of the Republic
Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)
199222 January 199222 January 19975 yearsSDS
Petar Stoyanov
Петър Стоянов
Born 1952
(72 years old)
199622 January 199722 January 20025 yearsSDS
Georgi Parvanov
Георги Първанов
Born 1957
(66 years old)
2001
2006
22 January 200222 January 201210 yearsBSP
Rosen Plevneliev
Росен Плевнелиев
Born 1964
(60 years old)
201122 January 201222 January 20175 yearsGERB
Rumen Radev
Румен Радев
Born 1963
(60 years old)
2016
2021
22 January 2017Incumbent[a]7 years, 147 daysIndependent

Timeline from 1946

edit
Rumen RadevRosen PlevnelievGeorgi ParvanovPetar StoyanovZhelyu ZhelevNikolai TodorovStanko TodorovPetar MladenovGeorgi TraykovDimitar GanevNikolay Georgiev (politician)Georgi KulishevTodor ZhivkovGeorgi DamyanovValko ChervenkovMincho NeychevVasil KolarovGeorgi Dimitrov

Head of state titles

edit
StateYearsTitle
 Principality of Bulgaria1879–1908Prince of Bulgaria
 Kingdom of Bulgaria1908–1946Tsar of Bulgaria
 People's Republic of Bulgaria1946–1947Chairman of the Provisional
Presidency
1947–1971Chairman of the Presidium
of the National Assembly
1971–1990Chairman of the State
Council
1990Chairman (President) of
the Republic
 Republic of Bulgaria1990–1992
1992–presentPresident of the Republic

See also

edit

Footnotes and references

edit
  1. ^ Radev's mandate expires on 22 January 2027.
edit