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{{Short description|Bulgarian politician}}
{{about|the politician|the footballer|Petar Stoyanov (footballer)|the Bulgarian swimmer|Petar Stoyanov (swimmer)}}
{{about|the politician|the footballer|Petar Stoyanov (footballer)|the Bulgarian swimmer|Petar Stoyanov (swimmer)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Stefanov|Stoyanov|lang=Bulgarian}}
{{Family name hatnote|Stefanov|Stoyanov|lang=Bulgarian}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Petar Stoyanov
| name = Petar Stoyanov
| native_name = Петър Стоянов
| native_name = {{nobold|Петър Стоянов}}
| native_name_lang = bg
| native_name_lang = bg
| image = Petar Stoyanov 2006.jpg
| image = Petar Stoyanov 2006.jpg
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| primeminister = {{plainlist|
| primeminister = {{plainlist|
* [[Zhan Videnov]]
* [[Zhan Videnov]]
* [[Stefan Sofiyanski]] {{small|(Acting)}}
* [[Stefan Sofiyanski]]
* [[Ivan Kostov]]
* [[Ivan Kostov]]
* [[Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha|Simeon Sakskoburggotski]]
* [[Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha|Simeon Sakskoburggotski]]
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| predecessor = [[Zhelyu Zhelev]]
| predecessor = [[Zhelyu Zhelev]]
| successor = [[Georgi Parvanov]]
| successor = [[Georgi Parvanov]]
| office1 = [[National Assembly (Bulgaria)|Member of the National Assembly]]
| term_start2 = 12 January 1995
| term_end2 = 11 November 1996
| constituency2 = [[16th MMC - Plovdiv-city|16th MMC - Plovdiv]]
| term_start1 = 11 July 2005
| term_end1 = 14 September 2007
| constituency1 = [[16th MMC - Plovdiv-city|16th MMC - Plovdiv]]
| office3 = [[Ministry of Justice (Bulgaria)|Deputy Minister of Justice]]
| term_start3 = 8 November 1991
| term_end3 = 30 December 1992
| primeminister3 = [[Philip Dimitrov]]
| minister3 = [[Svetoslav Luchnikov]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|5|25|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|5|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Plovdiv]], Bulgaria
| birth_place = [[Plovdiv]], [[People’s Republic of Bulgaria|PR Bulgaria]]
| party = [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] (1989-1997/2002-present)
| party = [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] (1989–1997; since 2002)
| otherparty = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1997–2002)
| otherparty = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1997–2002)
| spouse = {{marriage|Antonina Stoyanova|1978}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Antonina Stoyanova|1978}}
| children = Stefan (1979–)<br>Teofana (Fany) (1990–)
| children = Stefan (born 1979)<br>Teofana (Fany) (born 1990)
| alma_mater = [[Sofia University]]
| alma_mater = [[Sofia University]]
| caption = Stoyanov in 2006
| caption = Stoyanov in 2006
}}
}}
{{Conservatism sidebar |Jim Crow}}
{{Conservatism sidebar |Jim Crow}}
'''Petar Stefanov Stoyanov''' ({{lang-bg|Петър Стефанов Стоянов}} {{IPA-bg|ˈpɛtɐr ˈstɛfɐnof stoˈjanof|}}; born 25 May 1952) is a Bulgarian politician who served as [[President of Bulgaria]] from 1997 to 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40611F93A5F0C738EDDA80994D9404482|title=President-Elect of Bulgaria Sets Sights on NATO|date=20 November 2001|work=[[New York Times]]|access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref> A member of the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] (UDF), he was the party's nominee to succeed one-term president [[Zhelyu Zhelev]] in 1996 following a close primary within the party. He was elected in [[1996 Bulgarian presidential election|1996]], but lost his reelection bid in [[2001 Bulgarian presidential election|2001]]. Following a brief retirement from politics, he became an MP in 2005 and was Chairman of UDF from 1 October 2005 to 22 May 2007. He resigned after his party failed to gain a seat (with himself as the first choice) in the [[2007 European Parliament election in Bulgaria|2007 European Parliament elections]]
'''Petar Stefanov Stoyanov''' ({{langx|bg|Петър Стефанов Стоянов}} {{IPA|bg|ˈpɛtɐr ˈstɛfɐnof stoˈjanof|}}; born 25 May 1952) is a Bulgarian politician who served as [[President of Bulgaria]] from 1997 to 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40611F93A5F0C738EDDA80994D9404482|title=President-Elect of Bulgaria Sets Sights on NATO|date=20 November 2001|work=[[New York Times]]|access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref> A member of the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] (UDF), he was the party's nominee to succeed one-term president [[Zhelyu Zhelev]] in 1996. He was elected to the Presidency in [[1996 Bulgarian presidential election|1996]], but lost his reelection bid in [[2001 Bulgarian presidential election|2001]]. Following a brief retirement from politics, he became an MP in 2005 and later Chairman of UDF from 1 October 2005 to 22 May 2007. He resigned following the [[2007 European Parliament election in Bulgaria|2007 European Parliament election]].


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Stoyanov was born on 25 May 1952, in [[Plovdiv]], Bulgaria.<ref name="aub">[http://www.aubg.bg/templateT1.aspx?page=2001305075 The Honorable Petar Stoyanov] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319202256/http://www.aubg.bg/templateT1.aspx?page=2001305075 |date=2012-03-19 }}, [[American University in Bulgaria|AUB]]</ref> After graduating from secondary school, Stoyanov entered the [[Sofia University|Saint Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia]] law faculty where he graduated with honors in 1976.<ref name="americanbar">[http://apps.americanbar.org/rol/annual_award/award_history.html His Excellency Petar Stoyanov, President Of Bulgaria] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130223104041/http://apps.americanbar.org/rol/annual_award/award_history.html |date=2013-02-23 }}, [[American Bar Association]]</ref> He practiced civil law in Plovdiv through the next fifteen years.<ref name="americanbar"/> Stoyanov also speaks [[English language|English]] and [[German language|German]] in addition to his mother tongue [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]].<ref name="aub"/>
Stoyanov was born on 25 May 1952, in [[Plovdiv]], Bulgaria.<ref name="aub">[http://www.aubg.bg/templateT1.aspx?page=2001305075 The Honorable Petar Stoyanov] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319202256/http://www.aubg.bg/templateT1.aspx?page=2001305075 |date=2012-03-19 }}, [[American University in Bulgaria|AUB]]</ref> After graduating from secondary school, Stoyanov entered the [[Sofia University|Saint Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia]] law faculty where he graduated with honors in 1976.<ref name="americanbar">[http://apps.americanbar.org/rol/annual_award/award_history.html His Excellency Petar Stoyanov, President Of Bulgaria] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130223104041/http://apps.americanbar.org/rol/annual_award/award_history.html |date=2013-02-23 }}, [[American Bar Association]]</ref> He practiced civil law in Plovdiv through the next fifteen years.<ref name="americanbar"/> In addition to his mother tongue [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], Stoyanov also speaks [[English language|English]] and [[German language|German]] .<ref name="aub"/>


Shortly after the [[Revolutions of 1989|political changes]] in Bulgaria at the end of 1989 Stoyanov embarked on a political career (1990), co-founding and chairing a Democracy Club in Plovdiv. Later in the same year, he became spokesman of the Plovdiv Coordinating Council of the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] (UDF), a new Bulgarian coalitional opposition to the former ruling political parties ([[Bulgarian Communist Party|BKP]] and [[BZNS]]).<ref name="americanbar"/>
Stoyanov entered politics in 1990, shortly after the [[Revolutions of 1989|political changes]] in Bulgaria at the end of 1989. He co-founded and chaired a Democracy Club in Plovdiv and later that same year became spokesman of the Plovdiv Coordinating Council of the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] (UDF), a new Bulgarian coalition in opposition to the former ruling political parties ([[Bulgarian Communist Party|BKP]] and [[BZNS]]).<ref name="americanbar"/>


In 1991 Stoyanov joined the country's first post-communist government as Deputy Minister of Justice. In 1993 the UDF led government failed a vote of no confidence and was replaced. In May 1993 Stoyanov became a President of the UDF Legal Council.
In 1991 Stoyanov joined the country's first post-communist government as Deputy Minister of Justice. In 1993 the UDF led government failed a vote of no confidence and was replaced. In May 1993 Stoyanov became a President of the UDF Legal Council.
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===Presidency===
===Presidency===
{{see also|1996–1997 Bulgarian protests}}
On 1 June 1996 Petar Stoyanov won the [[Union Democratic Forces presidential primary, 1996]] with 66% of the 870,000 votes cast and was nominated as the presidential candidate of the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|UDF]]. He received a plurality of votes in the first round of the [[1996 Bulgarian presidential election|presidential elections]], ahead of the socialist candidate [[Ivan Marazov]] and [[George Ganchev]], founder and leader of [[Bulgarian Business Bloc]]. He then defeated Marazov in a runoff by a margin of 19,5%.
On 1 June 1996 Petar Stoyanov won the [[Union Democratic Forces presidential primary, 1996]] with 66% of the 870,000 votes cast and thus became the presidential candidate of the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|UDF]]. He received a plurality of votes in the first round of the [[1996 Bulgarian presidential election|presidential election]], ahead of the socialist candidate [[Ivan Marazov]] and [[Bulgarian Business Bloc]] founder and leader [[George Ganchev]]. In the second round he defeated Marazov by a margin of 19.5%.


He was sworn in as President on 19 January 1997 and stepped into office on 22 January 1997. He was the first Bulgarian Head of State after the Second World War, who had never been a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
Stoyanov was sworn in as President on 19 January 1997 and stepped into office on 22 January 1997. He was the first Bulgarian Head of State after the Second World War, who had never been a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party.


From the beginning of his tenure Petar Stoyanov faced the most dramatic crisis in the modern history of Bulgaria. For over a month, tens of thousands of citizens came out in protest against the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) led [[Videnov Government|government]]. After the resignation of Prime Minister Jean Videnov, the new leader of the BSP, Georgi Parvanov and Videnov's proposed successor as Prime Minister, Nikolay Dobrev, visited the newly elected Head of State with a proposed Cabenit. Having an absolute majority in the 37th National Assembly, the BSP had the ability to approve the new Cabinet, however President Stoyanov refused to propose it for a vote Parliament. Instead, on the same day, 4 February 1997, he summoned the National Security Consultative Council, which included representatives from all parties represented in Parliamentary. During this Consultative Council the BSP were forced to return the mandate to form a new government, and so with the decisive role of the newly-elected Head of State the political crisis was ended and [[1997 Bulgarian parliamentary election|new elections]] were scheduled. President Stoyanov appointed a Caretaker Government headed by Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski, who was a member of the Union of Democratic Forces. Subsequently the UDF received a majority in Parliament and formed a [[Kostov Government|government]], which would go on to be Bulgaria's first post 1989 government to serve a full term (1997-2001).
At the beginning of his tenure, Petar Stoyanov played a decisive role in one of the most dramatic crisis in the modern history of Bulgaria. For over a month, [[1996–1997 Bulgarian protests|tens of thousands of citizens came out in protest]] against the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) led [[Videnov Government|government]]. After the resignation of Prime Minister Jean Videnov, the new leader of the BSP, [[Georgi Parvanov]] and Videnov's proposed successor as Prime Minister, Nikolay Dobrev, visited the newly elected Head of State with a proposed Cabinet. With a majority in the 37th National Assembly, the BSP had the ability to approve the new Cabinet, however President Stoyanov refused to propose it for a vote in Parliament. Instead, on the same day, 4 February 1997, he summoned the National Security Consultative Council, which included representatives from all parties represented in Parliament. During this Consultative Council the BSP were forced to return the mandate to form a new government, and [[1997 Bulgarian parliamentary election|new elections]] were scheduled. President Stoyanov appointed a Caretaker Government headed by [[Sofia]] Mayor Stefan Sofianski, who was a member of the Union of Democratic Forces. Subsequently the UDF received a majority in Parliament and formed a [[Kostov Government|government]], which would go on to be Bulgaria's first post 1989 government to serve a full term (1997-2001).


At the request of President Stoyanov, the Caretaker Government officially submitted a request for Bulgaria's membership in NATO. Petar Stoyanov also played an important role in resolving the [[Kosovo War|Kosovo crisis]], strongly supporting the Alliance.
At the request of President Stoyanov, the Caretaker Government officially submitted a request for Bulgaria's membership in NATO. Petar Stoyanov also played an important role in resolving the [[Kosovo War|Kosovo crisis]], strongly supporting the Alliance.


Bulgaria entered into active negotiations for accession to the European Union, which was key to the country's subsequent accession to the EU.
During his presidency Bulgaria entered into active negotiations for accession to the European Union and ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.


The original manuscript of &nbsp;''[[Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya]]'' was returned to the monastery library of the Zograf Monastery on 12 January 1998 at his request.
Bulgaria ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.


In 1999 a sitting US President visited Bulgaria for the first time. At Stoyanov's invitation, Bill Clinton made a historic three-day visit between 21 and 23 November.
At Stoyanov's invitation, a sitting US President visited Bulgaria for the first time, when [[Bill Clinton]] made a historic three-day visit between 21 and 23 November 1999.


During his term in office Stoyanov became the first Head of state in the world to sign a law with an electronic signature. Petar Stoyanov has been a member of the Internet Society - Bulgaria, since 21 July 2000.
During his term in office Stoyanov became the first Head of state in the world to sign a law with an electronic signature. Petar Stoyanov has been a member of the Internet Society - Bulgaria, since 21 July 2000.

The original of &nbsp;''[[Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya]]'' was returned to the monastery library of the Zograf Monastery on 12 January 1998 at his decision.


===2001 Presidential Election===
===2001 Presidential Election===
{{main|2001 Bulgarian presidential election}}
{{main|2001 Bulgarian presidential election}}


Petar Stoyanov ran for a second presidential term in 2001, but lost in the second round against Georgi Parvanov, despite the fact that initially sociological surveys were in his favour.
Petar Stoyanov ran for a second term in 2001, but lost in the second round to Georgi Parvanov, despite the fact that he was initially leading in the polls.


During a TV debate with candidate Bogomil Bonev, Stoyanov produced a secret file containing information about &nbsp;Bonev's alleged contacts with persons of dubious repute. The presenter Ivo Indzhev read it out on air. At the height of the disputes, the reply of the other Presenter, Svetla Petrova, was "you risk the biggest winner of the dispute to be Georgi Parvanov," who did not participate in the TV dispute due to a meeting with voters. The popular opinion is that Stoyanov's actions deterred many voters and, with his moderate behavior, Parvanov won the votes of the undecided voters. In fact, during the campaign Petar Stoyanov did not receive the full support of any political party. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (the party of the Bulgarian ethnic Turks) strongly supported the candidate of the former Communist Party, Georgi Parvanov, despite the oppression that Bulgarian Turks were subjected to during the so-called "Revival process" by the oppressive bodies of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
During a TV debate with the other candidates, Stoyanov produced a classified file containing information about one of them, Bogomil Bonev and his alleged contacts with persons of dubious repute. One of the presenters, Ivo Indzhev read it out, while the other one, Svetla Petrova, stated that Stoyanov "risked the winner of the dispute being Georgi Parvanov", the socialist candidate who was absent. It is believed that Stoyanov's actions regarding this classified document deterred many swing voters, who were thus inclined to support Parvanov, due to his more moderate behaviour.


Before the start of the campaign, Stoyanov was supported by the UDF, but voters were baffled by ambiguous statements by leaders of the Union of Democratic Forces. Despite the expectation that the NDSV, which had won the parliamentary elections by an absolute majority shortly before, would support Stoyanov, this did not happen. During the second round, the leader of the movement and the then prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha announced that he would not vote, motivated by the desire to save the state the cost of the trip to the village of Banya, where he was registered and this disheartened his followers and voters.
During the campaign Petar Stoyanov did not receive the full support of any political party. The [[Movement for Rights and Freedoms]] (a party with strong support from the ethnic Turkish minority in Bulgaria) strongly supported the candidate of the former Communist Party, Georgi Parvanov, despite the oppression that Bulgarian Turks were subjected to during the so-called "Revival process" by the Bulgarian Communist Party. Prior to the start of the campaign, Stoyanov had been supported by the [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|UDF]], however the leaders of the party only made ambiguous statements during the campaign itself, which voters were baffled by. [[National Movement for Stability and Progress|NDSV]], the new party of former monarch [[Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]], which had won a majority of seats in the [[2001 Bulgarian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] earlier that year, had been expected to support Stoyanov. However, the leader of the movement then prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha announced that he would not vote in the second round, motivated by the desire to save the state the cost of the trip to the village of Banya, where he was registered and this disheartened his followers and voters.


Petar Stoyanov finished second in the first round of voting, as the socialist candidate [[Georgi Parvanov]] received 36.3%, Stoyanov received 34.9% and [[Bogomil Bonev]] received 19.2%. Stoyanov lost the runoff to Parvanov 46.7% to 53.3%.
Petar Stoyanov finished second in the first round of voting with 34.9%, behind the socialist candidate [[Georgi Parvanov]] with 36.3%, and ahead of [[Bogomil Bonev]] with 19.2%. Stoyanov lost the runoff to Parvanov by a margin of 8.3%.


Petar Stoyanov lost the elections for a second presidential term and this marked the beginning of a period of decline for the Union of Democratic Forces.
Petar Stoyanov's loss in this election, alongside poor performance in the earlier parliamentary election, marked the beginning of a period of decline for the Union of Democratic Forces.


=== Later political career===
=== Later political career===
In September 2004, Stoyanov was appointed as Special Envoy for [[Moldova]] of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] Chairman-in-Office.
In September 2004, Stoyanov was appointed Special Envoy for [[Moldova]] by the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] Chairman-in-Office.


In 2005, Stoyanov returned to active politics. He was elected as a member of the 40th National Assembly, where he became a member of the European Integration Committee and a member of State Administration Affairs Committee. Because of the UDF's poor result in these elections (8.4% of the popular vote, and 20 out of 240 seats), he blamed the party leader [[Nadezhda Mihailova]], criticizing her policy. On October 1, 2005 the UDF National Conference elected him as Chairman.
In 2005, Stoyanov returned to active politics. He was elected as a member of the 40th National Assembly in the [[2005 Bulgarian parliamentary election|parliamentary election]] held that year. He then became a member of the European Integration Committee and a member of State Administration Affairs Committee. Because of the UDF's poor result (8.4% of the popular vote and 20 out of 240 seats), he became a vocal opponent of party leader [[Nadezhda Mihailova]]. On October 1, 2005 the UDF National Conference elected him as Chairman of the party.


On 20 May 2007 at the first Bulgarian elections for EU Parliament, Stoyanov – who led the UDF list – failed to get elected since UDF fell 1% short of the 5.66% effective electoral threshold. This resulted in his resignation from the chairmanship of the Union of Democratic Forces on 22 May 2007.
On 20 May 2007 the first [[2007 European Parliament election in Bulgaria|European Parliament election in Bulgaria]] was held. Stoyanov – who led the UDF list – failed to get elected as UDF fell 1% short of the 5.66% effective electoral threshold. This resulted in his resignation from the leadership of the Union of Democratic Forces on 22 May 2007.


===Other===
===Other===
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In 2022 Stoyanov, together with Iuliana Metodieva and Mitko Novkov of ''[[Association for Human Rights Marginalia]]'' launched a campaign to honor volunteers and organizations who help refugees from Ukraine during the refugee crisis in Bulgaria following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-President Stoyanov Launches Campaign for Civil Courage Award for Help to Ukrainian Refugees |url=https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/297300-ex-president-stoyanov-launches-campaign-for-civil-courage-award-for-help-to-ukra |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=www.bta.bg |language=en}}</ref> The grand prize for overall contribution was given to Olena Kotseva from the ''Mati Ukraine'' association.<ref>{{Cite news |title=”Mati Ukraine” Association receives the Grand Prize for Human Kindness |language=en |url=https://bnr.bg/en/post/101720928/mati-ukraine-association-receives-the-grand-prize-for-human-kindness |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref>
In 2022 Stoyanov, together with Iuliana Metodieva and Mitko Novkov of ''[[Association for Human Rights Marginalia]]'' launched a campaign to honor volunteers and organizations who help refugees from Ukraine during the refugee crisis in Bulgaria following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-President Stoyanov Launches Campaign for Civil Courage Award for Help to Ukrainian Refugees |url=https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/297300-ex-president-stoyanov-launches-campaign-for-civil-courage-award-for-help-to-ukra |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=www.bta.bg |language=en}}</ref> The grand prize for overall contribution was given to Olena Kotseva from the ''Mati Ukraine'' association.<ref>{{Cite news |title=”Mati Ukraine” Association receives the Grand Prize for Human Kindness |language=en |url=https://bnr.bg/en/post/101720928/mati-ukraine-association-receives-the-grand-prize-for-human-kindness |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref>

== Membership ==
Stoyanov is member of the Bulgarian [[Internet Society]] since 2000, and has been a regular Internet user.


== Family ==
== Family ==
He is married to Antonina Stoyanova and has a daughter Fany (born 1990) and a son Stefan (born 1979).<ref name="americanbar"/> His younger brother, [[Emil Stoyanov]], is a former [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] from [[GERB]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Bulgarian EPP MEP Surprisingly Quits European Parliament|url= http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=145182|publisher=[[Novinite.com]]|date= 16 November 2012|access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref>
He is married to Antonina Stoyanova and has a son Stefan (born 1979) and a daughter Fany (born 1990).<ref name="americanbar"/> His younger brother, [[Emil Stoyanov]], is a former [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] from [[GERB]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Bulgarian EPP MEP Surprisingly Quits European Parliament|url= http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=145182|publisher=[[Novinite.com]]|date= 16 November 2012|access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref>


==Honours and awards==
==Honours and awards==
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[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Bulgarian conservatives]]
[[Category:Bulgarian conservatives]]
[[Category:Bulgarian anti-communists]]
[[Category:20th-century Bulgarian lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Bulgarian lawyers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Latest revision as of 11:10, 29 October 2024

Petar Stoyanov
Петър Стоянов
Stoyanov in 2006
2nd President of Bulgaria
In office
22 January 1997 – 22 January 2002
Prime Minister
Vice PresidentTodor Kavaldzhiev
Preceded byZhelyu Zhelev
Succeeded byGeorgi Parvanov
Member of the National Assembly
In office
11 July 2005 – 14 September 2007
Constituency16th MMC - Plovdiv
In office
12 January 1995 – 11 November 1996
Constituency16th MMC - Plovdiv
Deputy Minister of Justice
In office
8 November 1991 – 30 December 1992
Prime MinisterPhilip Dimitrov
MinisterSvetoslav Luchnikov
Personal details
Born (1952-05-25) 25 May 1952 (age 72)
Plovdiv, PR Bulgaria
Political partyUnion of Democratic Forces (1989–1997; since 2002)
Other political
affiliations
Independent (1997–2002)
Spouse
Antonina Stoyanova
(m. 1978)
ChildrenStefan (born 1979)
Teofana (Fany) (born 1990)
Alma materSofia University

Petar Stefanov Stoyanov (Bulgarian: Петър Стефанов Стоянов [ˈpɛtɐr ˈstɛfɐnof stoˈjanof]; born 25 May 1952) is a Bulgarian politician who served as President of Bulgaria from 1997 to 2002.[1] A member of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), he was the party's nominee to succeed one-term president Zhelyu Zhelev in 1996. He was elected to the Presidency in 1996, but lost his reelection bid in 2001. Following a brief retirement from politics, he became an MP in 2005 and later Chairman of UDF from 1 October 2005 to 22 May 2007. He resigned following the 2007 European Parliament election.

Biography

[edit]

Stoyanov was born on 25 May 1952, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.[2] After graduating from secondary school, Stoyanov entered the Saint Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia law faculty where he graduated with honors in 1976.[3] He practiced civil law in Plovdiv through the next fifteen years.[3] In addition to his mother tongue Bulgarian, Stoyanov also speaks English and German .[2]

Stoyanov entered politics in 1990, shortly after the political changes in Bulgaria at the end of 1989. He co-founded and chaired a Democracy Club in Plovdiv and later that same year became spokesman of the Plovdiv Coordinating Council of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), a new Bulgarian coalition in opposition to the former ruling political parties (BKP and BZNS).[3]

In 1991 Stoyanov joined the country's first post-communist government as Deputy Minister of Justice. In 1993 the UDF led government failed a vote of no confidence and was replaced. In May 1993 Stoyanov became a President of the UDF Legal Council.

In 1994, he was elected Member of Parliament and was chosen as Deputy Chairman of the UDF Parliamentary Group, in addition to being Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on Youth, Sports, and Tourism. In 1995 he became Deputy Chairman of UDF, responsible for domestic policy.

Presidency

[edit]

On 1 June 1996 Petar Stoyanov won the Union Democratic Forces presidential primary, 1996 with 66% of the 870,000 votes cast and thus became the presidential candidate of the UDF. He received a plurality of votes in the first round of the presidential election, ahead of the socialist candidate Ivan Marazov and Bulgarian Business Bloc founder and leader George Ganchev. In the second round he defeated Marazov by a margin of 19.5%.

Stoyanov was sworn in as President on 19 January 1997 and stepped into office on 22 January 1997. He was the first Bulgarian Head of State after the Second World War, who had never been a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party.

At the beginning of his tenure, Petar Stoyanov played a decisive role in one of the most dramatic crisis in the modern history of Bulgaria. For over a month, tens of thousands of citizens came out in protest against the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) led government. After the resignation of Prime Minister Jean Videnov, the new leader of the BSP, Georgi Parvanov and Videnov's proposed successor as Prime Minister, Nikolay Dobrev, visited the newly elected Head of State with a proposed Cabinet. With a majority in the 37th National Assembly, the BSP had the ability to approve the new Cabinet, however President Stoyanov refused to propose it for a vote in Parliament. Instead, on the same day, 4 February 1997, he summoned the National Security Consultative Council, which included representatives from all parties represented in Parliament. During this Consultative Council the BSP were forced to return the mandate to form a new government, and new elections were scheduled. President Stoyanov appointed a Caretaker Government headed by Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski, who was a member of the Union of Democratic Forces. Subsequently the UDF received a majority in Parliament and formed a government, which would go on to be Bulgaria's first post 1989 government to serve a full term (1997-2001).

At the request of President Stoyanov, the Caretaker Government officially submitted a request for Bulgaria's membership in NATO. Petar Stoyanov also played an important role in resolving the Kosovo crisis, strongly supporting the Alliance.

During his presidency Bulgaria entered into active negotiations for accession to the European Union and ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The original manuscript of  Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya was returned to the monastery library of the Zograf Monastery on 12 January 1998 at his request.

At Stoyanov's invitation, a sitting US President visited Bulgaria for the first time, when Bill Clinton made a historic three-day visit between 21 and 23 November 1999.

During his term in office Stoyanov became the first Head of state in the world to sign a law with an electronic signature. Petar Stoyanov has been a member of the Internet Society - Bulgaria, since 21 July 2000.

2001 Presidential Election

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Petar Stoyanov ran for a second term in 2001, but lost in the second round to Georgi Parvanov, despite the fact that he was initially leading in the polls.

During a TV debate with the other candidates, Stoyanov produced a classified file containing information about one of them, Bogomil Bonev and his alleged contacts with persons of dubious repute. One of the presenters, Ivo Indzhev read it out, while the other one, Svetla Petrova, stated that Stoyanov "risked the winner of the dispute being Georgi Parvanov", the socialist candidate who was absent. It is believed that Stoyanov's actions regarding this classified document deterred many swing voters, who were thus inclined to support Parvanov, due to his more moderate behaviour.

During the campaign Petar Stoyanov did not receive the full support of any political party. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (a party with strong support from the ethnic Turkish minority in Bulgaria) strongly supported the candidate of the former Communist Party, Georgi Parvanov, despite the oppression that Bulgarian Turks were subjected to during the so-called "Revival process" by the Bulgarian Communist Party. Prior to the start of the campaign, Stoyanov had been supported by the UDF, however the leaders of the party only made ambiguous statements during the campaign itself, which voters were baffled by. NDSV, the new party of former monarch Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, which had won a majority of seats in the parliamentary election earlier that year, had been expected to support Stoyanov. However, the leader of the movement then prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha announced that he would not vote in the second round, motivated by the desire to save the state the cost of the trip to the village of Banya, where he was registered and this disheartened his followers and voters.

Petar Stoyanov finished second in the first round of voting with 34.9%, behind the socialist candidate Georgi Parvanov with 36.3%, and ahead of Bogomil Bonev with 19.2%. Stoyanov lost the runoff to Parvanov by a margin of 8.3%.

Petar Stoyanov's loss in this election, alongside poor performance in the earlier parliamentary election, marked the beginning of a period of decline for the Union of Democratic Forces.

Later political career

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In September 2004, Stoyanov was appointed Special Envoy for Moldova by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

In 2005, Stoyanov returned to active politics. He was elected as a member of the 40th National Assembly in the parliamentary election held that year. He then became a member of the European Integration Committee and a member of State Administration Affairs Committee. Because of the UDF's poor result (8.4% of the popular vote and 20 out of 240 seats), he became a vocal opponent of party leader Nadezhda Mihailova. On October 1, 2005 the UDF National Conference elected him as Chairman of the party.

On 20 May 2007 the first European Parliament election in Bulgaria was held. Stoyanov – who led the UDF list – failed to get elected as UDF fell 1% short of the 5.66% effective electoral threshold. This resulted in his resignation from the leadership of the Union of Democratic Forces on 22 May 2007.

Other

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Stoyanov serves as an Honorary Co-Chair for the World Justice Project. The World Justice Project works to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen the Rule of Law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity. In 2002, as a fellow of The German Marshall Fund, Petar Stoyanov delivered lectures in the US at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, New York University, American Bar Association (Washington, DC) and other universities.[2]

In 2022 Stoyanov, together with Iuliana Metodieva and Mitko Novkov of Association for Human Rights Marginalia launched a campaign to honor volunteers and organizations who help refugees from Ukraine during the refugee crisis in Bulgaria following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[4] The grand prize for overall contribution was given to Olena Kotseva from the Mati Ukraine association.[5]

Family

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He is married to Antonina Stoyanova and has a son Stefan (born 1979) and a daughter Fany (born 1990).[3] His younger brother, Emil Stoyanov, is a former MEP from GERB.[6]

Honours and awards

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References

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  1. ^ "President-Elect of Bulgaria Sets Sights on NATO". New York Times. 20 November 2001. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b c The Honorable Petar Stoyanov Archived 2012-03-19 at the Wayback Machine, AUB
  3. ^ a b c d His Excellency Petar Stoyanov, President Of Bulgaria Archived 2013-02-23 at archive.today, American Bar Association
  4. ^ "Ex-President Stoyanov Launches Campaign for Civil Courage Award for Help to Ukrainian Refugees". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  5. ^ ""Mati Ukraine" Association receives the Grand Prize for Human Kindness". Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  6. ^ "Bulgarian EPP MEP Surprisingly Quits European Parliament". Novinite.com. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  7. ^ Slovak republic website, State honours Archived 2016-04-13 at the Wayback Machine : 1st Class received in 1997 (click on "Holders of the Order of the 1st Class White Double Cross" to see the holders' table)
  8. ^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF) (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 7 October 1999. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Reply to a parliamentary question about the Decoration of Honour" (pdf) (in German). p. 1310. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  10. ^ "Modtagere af danske dekorationer". kongehuset.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 5 May 2019.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by President of Bulgaria
1997–2002
Succeeded by