WHO IS WHO: Bulgaria's Newly Elected Members of the European Parliament, 2009

Bulgaria's newly-elected Members of the European Parliament after the 2009 EU Elections listed alphabetically (by first name):

1. Dimitar Stoyanov, "Ataka"
Position on party ticket: First

Dimitar Stoyanov is the stepson of the "Ataka" party leader, Volen Siderov, and grandson of the Bulgarian poet and dissident Radoy Ralin. Stoyanov went into politics in 2005, while still a student of law.

With "Ataka" adding Stoyanov and two other far-right MEPs and 5 new far-right MEPs from Romania, 23 far-right from 6 EU states, MEPs in the European Parliament formed the "Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty" Group. The ITS Group fell apart in November 2007 over internal dissent.

Dimitar Stoyanov caused a scandal in September 2006 by sending an email to all MEPs that appeared to belittle Roma women. The notorious email was targeted at the Hungarian MEP of Roma origin, Livia Jaroka.

In the EP, Dimitar Stoyanov has been a member of the Committee on Regional Development, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries.

Quote: "In my country there are tens of thousands of Gypsy girls way prettier than this honorable one (Hungarian MP Livia Jaroka - editor's note)... you may even buy one, around 12-13 years of age, to be your loving wife... Trust me, I have seen many gypsy girls but at her age of them are a lot thinner. Doesn't she share the terrible conditions that Roma all over Europe endure?"

DETAILED information about Dimitar Stoyanov is available HERE

2. Emil Stoyanov, GERB
Position on party ticket: Fourth

Emil Stoyanov has degrees in literature from the Plovdiv University, and the Leipzig University, Germany. He is the brother of Bulgaria's former President, Petar Stoyanov (1997-2002). Stoyanov is the founder and owner of Bulgaria's first news television - Evropa TV, and of two publishing houses in the city of Plovdiv. He speaks German and English.

Quote: "The Bulgarian Socialist Party is an extremely experienced party. It has used all dirty tricks from the political arsenal. I hope this time it won't be able to do that because GERB is a young but very well organized party that enjoys the extreme support of Europe and America... In Boyko Borisov, it has a charismatic leader. This time the BSP will be held accountable for its unconvincing behavior. ... Our municipal and national clerks must get used to the fact we are being watched constantly, and that they should not steal."

3. Evgeni Kirilov, Coalition for Bulgaria - Bulgarian Socialist Party
Position on coalition ticket: Fourth

Kirilov has a degree in international economic relations and international law. He was a MEP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party in 2007-2009 serving on the Subcommittee on Security and Defense, and the Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, and was a substitute on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Delegation to the EU-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee.

He was a Member of the Bulgarian Parliament for 12 years, and has been Bulgaria's representative to UNESCO. Kirilov speaks English, French, German, and Russian.

Quote: "European states also have left and right, government and opposition but civilized and responsible behavior demands that all of their MEPs defend national interests on certain issues. The European Parliament is no Western Wall. Our MEPs are obliged to work for promoting the good image of our country".

4. Filiz Hyusmenova, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS)
Position on party ticket: First

Hyusmenova has a Master's in French and Russian. She was a MEP from the DPS party in 2007-2009. In the European Parliament, she was a member of the group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

Hyusmenova was a vice-chair of the Committee on Regional Development, a substitute on the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee, and also served on the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (including Libya).

She was a Minister without Portfolio in the government of Simeon Saxe-Coburg in 2003-2005. Hyusmenova speaks Turkish (mother tongue), French, and Russian.

"During elections the anti-DPS rhetoric is stronger because some parties need a subject to be blame, to point to, and to convey their discontent upon the DPS. That is how they cover their own irresponsibility and helplessness."

DETAILED information about Filiz Hyusmenova is available HERE

5. Iliana Iotova, Coalition for Bulgaria - Bulgarian Socialist Party
Position on coalition ticket: Second

Iotova has a degree in Bulgarian and French. She was a MEP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party in 2007-2009, and served on the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, and the Delegation for relations with Canada. She was a substitute on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs, and the Delegation for Relations with Australia and New Zealand. She has been a MP and head of the Bulgarian Socialist Party press service, and a journalist at the Bulgarian National TV. She speaks French and Russian.

Quote: "The Bulgarian Socialist Party has distinguished personalities, and GERB has only Boyko Borisov. Let's see what sort of persons they have to put forth."

6. Iliyana Ivanova - GERB
Position on party ticket: Third

Ivanova has a Master's degree in international finance from the Thunderbird University, Arizona, USA, and has worked in the financial and audit sector in the USA. She is an expert and coordinator on international financial institutions at Bulgaria's Ministry of Agriculture. Ivanova speaks English, French, and Russian.

Quote: "In this unpredictable situation, with this high degree of uncertainty we'd better restrict public spending as much as possible until we figure out exactly what we are faced with, what the volume of the crisis will be, and how long it will last. I mean in particular the spending for murky procedures and tenders that go to "rings of firms" and don't help the economy, just make firms closer to the government richer".

7. Ivaylo Kalfin, Coalition for Bulgaria - "Social Democrats" Political Movement
Position on coalition ticket: First

Kalfin is Bulgaria's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the economy in the government of the three-way coalition led by PM Sergey Stanishev (2005-2009).

Kalfin has a Master's in international banking and international economic relations. He is a Professor of Finance at International University Sofia. Kalfin is a member of the Social Democrats Movement, which part of the BSP-led Coalition for Bulgaria.

Kalfin has been a Member of Parliament, and an economic advisor of Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvano as well as an observer at OSCE missions to Kosovo. He speaks English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

Quote: "I am not looking for a job. Let alone looking for a job abroad. I am involved in politics in Bulgaria, and I intend to continue to be involved in politics in Bulgaria from any position, including the position of a MEP."

DETAILED information about Ivaylo Kalfin is available HERE.

8.Kristian Vigenin, Coalition for Bulgaria - Bulgarian Socialist Party
Position on coalition ticket: Third

Vigenin has a degree in macroeconomics from the University for National and World Economy, Sofia. He was a MEP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party in 2007-2009 serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and was a substitute on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, and the Delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Vigenin was a Deputy Chair of the Group of the Party of European Socialists. He is the head of the BSP Foreign Policy Directorate. He speaks Germany, English, French, and Russian.

Quote: "The things on my agenda have always been endorsing Bulgaria's contribution to the EU, the Bulgarian language as an official EU language, the access for Bulgarian citizens to information about the EU institutions in Bulgarian language. I think that in this respect Bulgaria is still being discriminated against."

9.Maria Nedelcheva, GERB
Position on party ticket: Fifth

Nedelcheva is an Assistant Professor at the Political Science Institute in Bordeaux, France. She has completed her Ph. D. in Bordeaux and Brussels. Nedelcheva is an expert in political parties and government, and European law, and has experience with EU structural funds projects. She speaks French, English, and Russian.

Quote: "In Bulgaria rules either do not exist, or are not obeyed, or are enforced in the same way for everyone. The supremacy of law and protection of citizens' interests are the main principles of the EU. The judicial system and abuse of EU funds are an example of how these principles are not obeyed in Bulgaria."

10.Meglena Kuneva, NMSP,

Position on party ticket: First

Kuneva became the first Bulgarian member of the European Commission on January 1, 2007. She served as the Commissioner for consumer protection.

Before that she served as EU Affairs Minister of Bulgaria, and Bulgaria's Chief Negotiator for EU accession.

Quote: "Negotiating is an art that few have mastered. It is a long process, not a one-time act. It is a way of behaving, and recently - a way of life."

DETAILED information on Meglena Kuneva is available HERE.

11.Metin Kazak, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS)
Position on party ticket: Third

Kazak has a Master's in international and European law, and has specialized in France, Canada, and Turkey. He was a MEP from the DPS party in 2007-2009 serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, and the Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.

He was also a substitute on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and the Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, and for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia In the EP, Kazak belonged to the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. He speaks French, English, Russian, and Turkish (mother tongue).

Quote: "I often ask my brother for advise because after all he has a greater "parliamentary experience than me." (referring to his twin brother, Chetin Kazak, who is a long-time Member of the Bulgarian Parliament)

12.Nadezhda Mihaylova, Blue Coalition - Union of Democratic Forces
Position on party ticket: First

Mihaylova was Bulgaria's Foreign Minister in the government of the Union of Democratic Forces of Ivan Kostov (1997-2001). She was the Foreign Minister during the Kosovo Crisis (1999). During her term Bulgaria's received an invitation to start negotiations for EU accession.

Quote: "A lot of masks have been removed. A lot of people that I thought of as friends of mine turned out to have been friends with me only because of the positions they had occupied. Or because of their ambitions they thought they would realize through being friends with me."

DETAILED information about Nadezhda Mihaylova is available HERE

13.Rumiana Jeleva, GERB
Position on party ticket: First

The No. 1 candidate, Rumiana Jeleva, has a Ph. D. in sociology from the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany, and is a visiting Professor of European Studies at the same university.

She was a MEP from the GERB party in 2007-2009, and the Chair of the Bulgarian Delegation at the European People's Party-European Democrats Group at the EP.
Jeleva served on the EP Committee on Regional Development, and the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries. She was a substitute on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, and the Delegation for relations with Iran. Jeleva is fluent in German and English.

Quote: "As the top MEP candidate of GERB I have a certain huge responsibility but in a sense it is also pretty easy for me - unlike others including our right wing colleagues (meaning the Blue Coalition - editor's note) who are just starting to run for the EP, we are already doing the things. Two years are experience that matters. Each one of us with this experience is useful for Bulgaria."

DETAILED information about Rumiana Jeleva is available HERE.

14. Slavi Binev, "Ataka"
Position on party ticket: Second

Binev has a doctoral degree from the Psychology Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and a Master's from the National Sports Academy in tennis and boxing. He is a businessman, and a master of tae-kwon-do, and has participated in a many international competitions.

Binev was a MEP from the Ataka party in 2007-2009 serving on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, and the Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, and was a substitute on the Committee on Culture and Education, and the Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, and for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia.

Various media reports and books have claimed that Binev has been involved into murky activities in the 1990s; his name has been involved in several trials. In 2007, Binev was given the Byzantine title of "archon" by a Bulgarian bishop, allegedly after he made a donation of BGN 300 000 to the church.

Quote: "Boys in Bulgaria don't want to become scientists, firemen, sportsmen, or astronauts. They want to become "mutri" (Bulgarian gangsters - editor's note) because the mutri are rich, and are not prosecuted by the law. I still want to convince the young people that today being one of the "mutri" is not something heroic. It is heroic to try to live believing in the law. This is so exotic that whenever I say it, they look at me as if the popfolk singer Azis (Bulgarian gay singer of "chalga" (popfolk) music - editor's note) - a man with white beard, black ball dress, and garters."

15.Svetoslav Malinov, Blue Coalition - Democrats for Strong Bulgaria
Position on coalition ticket: Second

Malinov has degrees in political science from Sofia University and York University (UK). He has specialized in Norway, USA, and UK, and is a Professor of Political Science at Sofia University. Malinov is on the Blue Coalition ticket from the quota of the DSB party of former PM Ivan Kostov. He is a Member of the 40th Bulgarian Parliament. Malinov speaks English and German.

Quote: "At present Bulgaria is a state with failed EU membership. We are an EU member. They won't expel us. There Р°rРµ no such procedures, and no one admits anyone in order to expel them. But right now we are a state which has failed its membership on the most important criteria. We cannot work with EU money, and we prove to be a state that is totally incompetent to meet EU rules, i.e. to put it straight, we are Europe's weak link."

16.Vladimir Urutchev, GERB
Position on party ticket: Second

Vladimir Urutchev is a nuclear energy specialist. In 2000-2007, he was the Chief Engineer of Units 1-4 of the Bulgarian Nuclear Power Plant "Kozloduy". He was a MEP from the GERB party in 2007-2009 serving on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs, and the Delegation for relations with Belarus, and was a substitute on the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy, and the Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees. Urutchev speaks English and Russian.

Quote: "The battle for the restart of Units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant must be fought with facts and proves, and not with stubbornness and the argument that we were screwed up some years ago."

17.Vladko Panayotov, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS)
Position on party ticket: Second

Panaytov has completed his engineering degree in Moscow, and is a Professor at the University of Mining and Geology, Sofia.

He was a MEP from the DPS party in 2007-2009. He served on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China, and the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, and was a substitute on the Committee on Regional Development, and the Delegation for relations with Japan.

In the EP, Panayotov belonged to the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. He speaks English, Spanish, and Russian.

Quote: "We need to take into account not just the traditions of our crafts, the well-known industriousness and skill of the Bulgarians but also the things that life demands from us. Our time insists on a new technological mentality, high-quality education of the young people, and on progress in that respect."

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