GEORGI PARVANOV

Georgi Parvanov was born on 28 June 1957 in Sirishnik, Pernik District. He graduated as M.A. in History from the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in 1981. He got his PhD in History in 1988.

From 1981 to 1991 he was a senior research associate at the Institute of History of the Bulgarian Communist Party. In 1991 he headed the Historical and Political Research Centre under the Bulgarian Socialist Party Supreme Council.

In December 1996 Parvanov became Chairperson of the Bulgarian Socialist Party Supreme Council. For the period 1994-2001 Parvanov was a Member of Parliament.

From 1994-1997 he was Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group for Friendship with Greece and member of the Parliamentary Committee on Radio and Television. For the period 1997-2001 he served as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Left and the Parliamentary Group of Coalition for Bulgaria.

In November 2001 he was elected for president. He took office on 22 January 2002.

He is married with two sons.


GEN. ANGEL MARIN

Gen. Angel Marin was born on 8th January 1942 in Batak. He graduated from the Higher Military Artillery School in Shoumen in 1965 and the Military Artillery Academy in St. Petersburg (Leningrad) in Russia in 1978. He has a civilian degree in Radio Electronics Engineering. From 1978 to 1998 he serves as a commander of different units of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.

In 1991 he was promoted to Major General.

In 1998 he was dismissed from the Army due to disagreement with the manner of army reform and he retired.

He has been Bulgaria's Vice-President since 22 January 2002.

Gen. Marin is married with two children and two grandchildren.


PRE-ELECTION VOWS

Georgi Parvanov plays mainly the social card, claiming to be president to all Bulgarians, regardless of their religion, ethnos or age. According to Parvanov the president embodies the nation and "the Constitution is to be read, not quoted". Politics should be viewed as a way of resolving the problems in society, he as

The president promises to be a guarantee for political stability and favourable changes in Bulgaria.

Parvanov and Marin pledge the prolonged trial of the Bulgarian nurses in Libya will see its favourable resolution.

As far as the controversy over Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is concerned, Parvanov says the only alternative for Bulgaria now is to build the Belene NPP as quickly as possible. He vows to will assist the process.