Kiril Petkov Petkov (Template:Lang-bg; born 17 April 1980) is a Bulgarian politician, economist, and entrepreneur, who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria from December 2021 to August 2022.[1] He is the co-leader of We Continue the Change, a political party he co-founded with Asen Vasilev.
Kiril Petkov | |
|---|---|
Кирил Петков | |
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 19 October 2022 | |
| Constituency | 23rd MMC - Sofia |
| Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
| In office 13 December 2021 – 2 August 2022 | |
| President | Rumen Radev |
| Deputy | Asen Vasilev Korneliya Ninova Borislav Sandov |
| Preceded by | Stefan Yanev |
| Succeeded by | Galab Donev |
| Leader of We Continue the Change | |
| Assumed office 19 September 2021 Serving with Asen Vasilev | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Minister of Economy and Industry | |
| In office 12 May 2021 – 16 September 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Stefan Yanev |
| Preceded by | Lachezar Borisov |
| Succeeded by | Daniela Vezieva |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kiril Petkov Petkov 17 April 1980 Plovdiv, PR Bulgaria |
| Citizenship | |
| Political party | PP (since 2021) |
| Spouse |
Linda Petkova (m. 2000) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
|
Early life and education
Petkov was born on 17 April 1980, in Plovdiv. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University, where he was ranked in the top 10% of his class.[2] One of his lecturers was Michael Porter, with whom he specialized in the development of cluster strategies.[3] Petkov is one of the founders of the Center for Economic Strategies and Competitiveness at Sofia University, affiliated with Harvard University, where he has taught classes in economic development and microeconomics of competitiveness.[3][4]
Business career
From 2001 to 2005, Petkov worked for the Canadian food company McCain Foods as a corporate development manager.[3] Since 2007, he has been developing projects in the field of high value-added innovation, and his company ProViotik holds several patents in biotechnology in the United States.[3][5]
Political career
Early political career
On 11 January 2017, Petkov was elected in the executive board of the newly formed political party Yes, Bulgaria![6]
Minister of Economy
From 12 May to 16 September 2021, Petkov served as Minister of Economy in the caretaker government of Stefan Yanev.[3] In his first television appearance as a minister, Petkov revealed that the Bulgarian Development Bank, controlled by the state and purported to support small and medium-sized enterprises, had distributed 500 million euros in loans to just eight companies owned by four businessmen.[7] He condemned the practice as 'outrageous' and initiated an audit of how loans had been allocated.[8]
Prime Minister of Bulgaria
Prelude
On 19 September 2021, Petkov and Asen Vasilev presented their political project We Continue the Change (PP), an anti-corruption party seeking to be the uniting force that could bring all the other like-minded parties together to form a government, and fight against the corrupt sistem supported by GERB and DPS, which had governed Bulgaria almost 12 years.[9] The pair met while studying at Harvard Business School.[10]
On 27 October 2021, the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria retroactively overturned the decree appointing Petkov as Minister of Economy due to his status as a dual citizen, as the Constitution of Bulgaria states that ministers must only be Bulgarian citizens.[11] Although the position was retracted from him, his actions in the role were not nullified.[11] Political opponents of Petkov which included Lozan Panov, a presidential candidate and chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation of Bulgaria, called for action to be taken on the issue.[12] Petkov was previously a citizen of Canada, and stated that he had renounced his citizenship in April 2021, but Canadian government documents showed that the procedure was not officially completed until August 2021.[13]
After the initial results of the November elections were released, where PP came first but with a minority of 67 from 240 seats, Petkov announced that the party would be seeking to come to an agreement with several of the other parliamentary represented parties, and that he would be willing to partner up with all parties that would join the fight against corruption in Bulgaria.[14] Petkov said he wanted to pursue "transparent" coalition negotiations with Democratic Bulgaria (DB) and There Is Such a People (ITN), and that he would be PP's nomination for prime minister,[15] without any participation of DPS and GERB.[16]
A series of talks on 18 policy areas were held between 23 November and 27 November, between the representatives of PP, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), ITN and DB.[17] On 10 December, the leaders of the four parties confirmed that they had reached a coalition agreement, and would form Bulgaria's first regular government since April.[18] Shortly after, President Rumen Radev announced that he had given the mandate to form a government to Petkov.[19] On 12 December, Petkov presented the composition of the incoming government, which was approved by the National Assembly on 13 December 2021.[20]
In office
Petkov was elected prime minister of Bulgaria in the Parliament of Bulgaria on 13 December 2021, with 134 votes in favour and 104 against, and his new government was appointed on the same day by President Rumen Radev.[20]
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In the first week following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Petkov announced that Bulgaria would welcome Ukrainian refugees. He stated, "These are not the refugees we are used to; these people are Europeans. These people are intelligent. They are educated people...This is not the refugee wave we have been used to, people we were not sure about their identity, people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists."[21] His statement drew widespread criticism and allegations of racism, with many highlighting the different treatment of past refugee waves.[22][23][24]
In February, Petkov called for the resignation of Stefan Yanev from his position as Minister of Defense, after Yanev declined to use the word "war" in reference to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, instead referring to it as a "special operation", echoing language used by Russian President Vladimir Putin.[25] In May, Petkov recalled Bulgaria's ambassador to Russia, after Russian ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova drew a comparison between the war in Ukraine and Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman Empire.[26]
On 3 March, the national day of Bulgaria, he was hit by a snowball during the official ceremony, due to the fact that he pretended to change the national day of the country, claiming the today's is a pro-Russian date.[27]
On 19 March, Petkov was joined by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin to announce that the Port of Varna and Port of Constanța would be joined by road and railroad connections as well as by energy infrastructure, in an effort to increase military mobility in the region. He said: "There will be a bridge over the Danube River... Logistics is just as important as military equipment... We can have really a working defense along the eastern flank [of NATO]."[28]
In early 2022, Petkov was sympathetic to the repeated requests of Volodymyr Zelensky for military aid in Ukraine's battle against Russia, going so far as to provide fuel and ex-Soviet arms (for commonality with existing supplies) to the invaded party, but had to keep supplies secret because of his pro-Kremlin partners in government.[29] And he faced down the refusal of Bulgarian Socialist Party and the party's leader Korneliya Ninova to support the victim.[30] On 4 May, the parliament approved the continuation of repairs for damaged Ukrainian military equipment,[31] and announced that Bulgaria would continue to support Ukraine's membership in the EU, as well as Ukrainian refugees,[26] who numbered more than 56,000 as of 7 June.[32] Petkov noted Bulgaria's espousal of all sanctions against Russia, and would allow the use of the Port of Varna to transship goods that had been stifled by the Russian blockade of Odesa.[33]
In early June, Petkov's coalition partner, There Is Such a People, which had called for energy cooperation with Russia even after Gazprom cut off supplies to Bulgaria, withdrew from the coalition.[34] On 22 June, the government faced a motion of no confidence, which it lost.[35] Petkov formally resigned from his position as prime minister on 27 June, and was tasked by President Rumen Radev to form a new government.[36]
In the evening of 27 June, the Russian embassy in Sofia launched a charity appeal for Bulgarians to support the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[37] One day later, Petkov announced the expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats over concerns of espionage.[38] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Bulgaria would be temporarily closing down its diplomatic mission in Yekaterinburg and expected Russia to temporarily halt the activities of its own mission in Ruse, Bulgaria.[39]
Petkov's coalition collapsed in June 2022 after his government lost a vote of no confidence. He left office on 2 August and was succeeded by the former minister of labor Galab Donev, who leads a caretaker government. President Radev subsequently called for a snap election to be held on 2 October.[40]
Return to opposition
The October 2022 election saw Petkov's coalition lose its majority and no coalition could be formed.[41] This led to another snap election in April 2023, which saw similar results and no obvious governing coalition possible.[42] Petkov's party came in second place, despite exit polls forecasting them as the winners.[43]
Rotation coalition government of GERB and PP-DB
After the April 2023 election, realizing his voting maximum is between the 7% and 10% of the population,[44] he decided to coalition with his former main opponent, GERB and Boyko Borisov, in order to save the country from Putin. He proposed to form a rotation government, claimed to be a "non-coalition", where PP–DB's Nikolai Denkov would start with the premiership, with GERB's Mariya Gabriel serving as Deputy Prime Minister, and after nine months, they would switch positions. He also turned against the President Rumen Radev, by whom he was assigned as Minister of Economy in the First Yanev Government, blaming that he has a pro-Russian policy.[45]
References
- ^ "Galab Donev Appointed Caretaker PM". bta.bg. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Служебният министър на икономиката Кирил Петков бе отличен сред Достойните българи". 24 Chasa (in Bulgarian). 11 May 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Президентът Радев обяви служебното правителство - вижте кои са министрите - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини". Bulgarian National Television (in Bulgarian). 11 May 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ Okov, Slav (26 November 2021). "'Harvard Boys' Take On EU Graft Spot Bulgaria in Cabinet Try". Bloomberg. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ Dzhambazova, Boryana (12 November 2021). "Harvard grad looks to break Bulgaria's electoral deadlock". Politico. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ "Да, България" избра ръководство, партията внася документи за регистрация в петък" [Yes, Bulgaria elected leadership, the party files documents for registration on Friday]. dabulgaria.bg (in Bulgarian). 12 January 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Didelot, Nelly (16 November 2021). "En Bulgarie, l'anticorruption gagne toutes les élections". Libération (in French). Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ Dzambazova, Boryana; Bayer, Lili (15 June 2021). "Bulgaria sinks under wave of pre-election scandals". Politico. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ Stoyanov, Mihail (19 September 2021). "Политическото напрежение: след заплахи шефът на приходната агенция вече е с охрана". Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ Herszenhorn, Miles J. (22 November 2021). "Emphasizing Harvard Credentials, Bulgarian Politicians Win Parliamentary Election". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ a b Drumeva, Ina (27 October 2021). "Конституционният съд отмени указа, с който Кирил Петков е назначен за министър". Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ Georgieva, Svetlana (28 October 2021). "Антоний Тодоров: Конституционният съд се включи успешно в политическата борба". Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Constitutional Court: Presidential Decree Appointing Kiril Petkov as Minister Violates the Constitution". Novinvite. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Tough Coalition Talks Loom in Bulgaria After Inconclusive Elections". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Bulgaria elections: New anti-graft PP party leads after Sunday's vote". euronews. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Bulgaria presidential poll seen testing anti-graft reform appetite". Radio France Internationale. 21 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ "Bulgaria's We Continue the Change party announces schedule for talks towards coalition agreement". Sofia Globe. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "Four Bulgarian parties agree to form centrist-led government". Euronews. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ "Bulgaria: Anti-corruption party leader asked to form government". Deutsche Welle. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ a b Kotkamp, Lukas (13 December 2021). "Bulgarian parliament backs Kiril Petkov as PM". Politico. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Europe's different approach to Ukrainian and Syrian refugees draws accusations of racism". CBC News. 28 February 2022.
- ^ Narea, Nicole (5 March 2022). "Why it's more difficult to flee Ukraine if you're not from Ukraine". Vox. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Wamsley, Laurel (3 March 2022). "Race, culture and politics underpin how — or if — refugees are welcomed in Europe". NPR. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ Lorraine, Ali (2 March 2022). "In Ukraine reporting, Western press reveals grim bias toward 'people like us'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ Okov, Slav (28 February 2022). "Bulgarian Defense Chief Faces Dismissal After Not Saying 'War'". Bloomberg. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ a b Gerasymchuk, Sergiy (7 May 2022). "Bulgaria: Hard Choice between Weapons for Ukraine and Unity of the Coalition". European Pravda. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ Dzhambazova, Boryana (21 March 2022). "Ukraine war exposes the Kremlin's lingering reach in Bulgaria". Politico.
- ^ "Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov Hold Joint Press Conference". US Department of Defense. 19 March 2022.
- ^ VOLKMANN-SCHLUCK, PHILIP (18 January 2023). "Bulgaria to the rescue: How the EU's poorest country secretly saved Ukraine". POLITICO.eu. DIE WELT.
- ^ "Bulgarian Delegation To Visit Kyiv In Effort To Break Coalition Deadlock Over Arms Deliveries". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 27 April 2022.
- ^ "Bulgaria approves repairs to Ukrainian military equipment, not military aid". Reuters. 4 May 2022.
- ^ Todorov, Svetoslav (7 June 2022). "'We Have Done Enough': Bulgaria Rejects Ukraine's Plea for Heavy Weapons". Balkan Insight.
- ^ Fung, Katherine (7 June 2022). "Bulgaria Won't Send Weapons to Ukraine as Zelensky Faces Calls to End War". Newsweek.
- ^ Kuczyński, Grzegorz (29 June 2022). "Outgoing Bulgarian PM Petkov Expels Russian Diplomats". Warsaw Institute. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ Hall, Ben; Foy, Henry (22 June 2022). "Bulgarian government ousted in blow to EU enlargement hopes". Financial Times. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Bulgarian Prime Minister Petkov resigns after losing confidence vote". Euronews. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Moscow's Embassy in Bulgaria Launches Fundraiser for Russian Troops". Balkan Insight. 28 June 2022.
- ^ Oliver, Christian (28 June 2022). "Bulgaria expels 70 Russian diplomats and spies". Politico. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ Tsolova, Tsvetelia (28 June 2022). "Bulgaria expels 70 Russian diplomatic staff over espionage concerns". Reuters. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Bulgaria president calls Oct 2 snap polls, appoints caretaker govt". Reuters. Sofia. 1 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ "Five key takeaways from Bulgaria's fourth election in 18 months". euronews. 4 October 2022.
- ^ Todorov, Svetoslav (4 April 2023). "Close-Run Bulgarian Polls Threaten Continuing Political Stalemate". BIRN.
- ^ "Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov Won Bulgaria's Fifth Election in Two Years, Exit ... - Latest Tweet by Bloomberg". Latestly. 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Кирил и Асен: ДАНС, НСО, главният секретар на МВР – това са наши хора, които са определени от посолството".
- ^ "Bulgaria parties agree to form coalition govt in bid to end deadlock". Reuters. 22 May 2023.
