by Petya Bondokova
Sofia News Agency

Looking at the election tickets of Bulgaria's main political forces, one can tell that the gentlemen in the 40th Parliament won't be left with only dull political debates.

There is going to be grace, charm and vanity, because gals from a wide range of occupations - from politicians to fashion models - are riding atop of many election tickets.

A lot of new names and faces have come into play, but it is those who have already been in the spotlight that attract the most attention and trigger public chit-chatting.

There are ministers like Dolores Arsenova and Meglena Kuneva, and there is a number of other ladies with remarkable political careers, like Nadezha Mihaylova and Ekaterina Mihaylova.

But many of parties showed more of a free spirit when getting their tickets settled.

The junior partner in Bulgaria's ruling coalition, Movement for Rights and Freedoms, have enlisted renowned poetess Nadezhda Zaharieva, an author of numerous hit-song lyrics. She is also the wife on one of the landmark personalities in Bulgarian poetry, late Damyan Damyanov.

Sensitive Zaharieva storms into the cold world of politics with a vengeance. She leads the MRF ticket in capital Sofia's 25th constituency ...

... Where she will battle for votes against a double Playboy cover girl. Yuliana Kancheva is a recently-elected deputy chairman of Euroroma, but that couldn't keep her away from the catwalk. Because her silicone-boosted beauty has earned her a flourishing career in the fashion business, and also secured her roles in popular music videos.

Well, the heat is around the corner for the 25th constituency, where voters will apparently have to choose between modesty and overwhelming sex appeal!

Seductress Kancheva is also the leader of the Euroroma ticket in the 23rd constituency. There, she will encounter experienced Nadezhda Mihaylova, the head of the right-wing United Democratic Forces (UtDF). Just as pretty as her model rival, Nadezha, unlike Yuliana, is already familiar with state power. She was Bulgaria's foreign minister in the previous government, and is widely regarded a skilled and charismatic politician.

But the brightest selection of female candidates is probably the one of the ruling party. Simeon II National Movement (SIINM) have entrusted 24th constituency in Sofia to Environment Minister Dolores Arsenova, and the surrounding areas of the capital to Vessela Draganova. In the key city of Russe, their election ticket is topped by Meglena Kuneva, a successful EU-Affairs Minister and also a woman of bright intellect, great oratorical talent and elegance.

The former Economy Minister Lidia Shuleva, who is believed to be one of the premier's most trusted associates, is atop in the town of Lovech, while her successor on the ministerial job Hristina Hristova leads the SIINM ticket in Vratsa.

Ladies also lead the party's tickets in Pernik, Vidin and Kardzhali.

Unlike the incumbents, Coalition for Bulgaria doesn't seem to place a high stake on female political abilities. The leftists have female ticket leaders only in Stara Zagora and the town of Gabrovo, Emilia Maslarova and Tatyana Doncheva respectively.

But those assignments come as no surprise, as the main force in the Coalition, the Socialist Party, has been known for preferring men on key party posts.

In the meantime, their radical right-wing rivals the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria are driving new lady names into the spotlight. DSB tickets in Gabrovo, Pazardzhik, Pernik and Yambol are all topped by females, some of them not popular names in politics yet. Except for Evdokia Maneva (Gabrovo) and, of course, Ekaterina Mihaylova who is a ticket leader for Pazardzhik and in the 24th constituency of Sofia.

Keeping an eye on the rightist spectrum, the UtDF leader Nadezhda Mihaylova is really standing out. The former foreign minister is probably the most influential female among opposition nominees at the moment. She leads election tickets in Sofia and the main Bulgarian seaside city, Varna.

The UtDF have also entrusted the key city of Russe to a woman, Eleonora Nikolova.

The fresh partner in Bulgaria's ruling coalition has an impressive lady line-up. Novoto Vreme ("New Time") will count on the ladies in Plovdiv, Vidin, Dobrich, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Silistra and Shumen. The New-Timers weren't bold enough to put a woman on top of a list in capital Sofia, yet their trust in female politicians in a total of seven cities is impressive.

In general view, the women leading election tickets make a colourful mix of political veterans and beginners. But one thing is certain - there are some remarkably beautiful and stylish ladies.

Starting with the group of the experienced politicians, we couldn't ignore Nadezhda Mihaylova (UtDF), Meglena Kuneva (SIINM), Emel Etem (MRF) and Lidia Shuleva (SIINM). The four differ greatly in respect of personalities and political beliefs, but share an immaculate sense of style. Their wardrobes have been attracting the same interest as their political moves. Elegant suits and shoes, carefully chosen accessories and perfect hairdos have turned these women into icons of business wear.

Each of them adds a unique touch to business style. Meglena Kuneva, for example, is always impeccably groomed, shines with femininity and seems to have an infatuation with large, romantic shawls.

Lidia Shuleva is fond of a more extravagant fashion, and can be seen in suits that are either made of a shiny fabric or bright-coloured, like gold or fuchsia. Her hair dyed in vivid orange-red is another bright accent.

The ruling SIINM's Antonia Parvanova and Novoto Vreme's Yuliana Doncheva were also the walking synonym of style in the 39th Parliament. This comes as no surprise for Doncheva in particular, who has been into modelling and TV-hosting before she started to pursue a political career. During her first day as a lawmaker, she was looked upon with great interest mainly because of her perfect figure, beautiful hair and designer attire.


The same refers to Culture Minister Nina Chilova. The young stateswoman has been showing a lot of ambition and hard work since her ministerial appointment, but her looks never stopped drawing attention. The slender blonde always looks fresh in her pastel suits, and wears a modern and sexy hairstyle.

Talking about beauty, however, Euroroma has obviously taken the lead. If their deputy chairman enters the next Parliament, she would be the first Bulgarian MP that can be seen nude on Playboy covers, or wearing sexy lingerie in numerous videos and photo sessions.

By the way, it would probably be risky to have Yuliana Kancheva in Parliament. Her figure would certainly grab the attention of male colleagues, in that way constantly distracting them from state affairs.

But there are two sides of every coin. A bunch of beautiful and charming ladies could solve the problem with skipping parliamentary sessions in an instance. Male MPs wouldn't want to miss another day of beautiful hair, new tailor-made suits, elegant high-heeled shoes and charming smiles.


So, here is the first advantage of female MPs. We're looking forward for more!

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