Boyko Borisov | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Бойко Борисов | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 4 May 2017 – 12 May 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||
President | Rumen Radev | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Ognyan Gerdzhikov | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Stefan Yanev | ||||||||||||||||||||
In office 7 November 2014 – 27 January 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||
President | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Georgi Bliznashki | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Ognyan Gerdzhikov | ||||||||||||||||||||
In office 27 July 2009 – 13 March 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||
President | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | See list | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Sergey Stanishev | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Marin Raykov | ||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the National Assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 12 April 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | 16th MMC – Plovdiv | ||||||||||||||||||||
In office 21 May 2013 – 7 November 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | 25th MMC – Sofia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of GERB | |||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 10 January 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Tsvetan Tsvetanov | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mayor of Sofia | |||||||||||||||||||||
In office 10 November 2005 – 27 July 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Stefan Sofiyanski | ||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Yordanka Fandakova | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Boyko Metodiev Borisov 13 June 1959 Sofia, PR Bulgaria | ||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | GERB (since 2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations |
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Spouse |
Stela Borisova (divorced) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Children | Veneta Borisova | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Academy of the Ministry of Interior, in Sofia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | |||||||||||||||||||||
Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Boyko Metodiev Borisov[a] (Bulgarian: Бойко Методиев Борисов, born 13 June 1959) is a Bulgarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria on three separate occasions, serving a total of 9 years between 2009 and 2021, making him the country's longest-serving post-communist Prime Minister. A member of the GERB party, which he founded and currently leads, he previously served as Mayor of Sofia from 2005 to 2009. Borisov remains politically active to date and is currently a Member of the National Assembly.
Borisov was elected mayor of Sofia in 2005. In December 2005, he was the founding chair of the conservative political party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), becoming its lead candidate in the 2009 general election. Borisov led GERB to a landslide victory in 2009, defeating the incumbent Socialist Party, and resigned as mayor of Sofia to be sworn in as prime minister. He resigned in 2013, after nationwide protests against the government's energy policy, but after leading GERB to victory in the 2014 general election, he became prime minister again. His second term ended similarly to his first, after Borisov resigned in January 2017, this time following GERB's defeat in the 2016 presidential election. As before, Borisov led GERB to election victory again in the snap 2017 general election, becoming prime minister for a third time.
Under Borisov's cabinets Bulgaria saw improved macroeconomic stability and political stability while remaining the EU's poorest member, with nearly a quarter of its population below national poverty lines.[2] Foreign direct investment fell and corruption have led as recently as June 2019 to repeated rejection of Bulgaria's attempts to join the Schengen Area.[3] Electoral results for Borisov and his party were overshadowed by allegations of fraud in 2013,[4] 2015,[5] and in 2019 both locally and for the European Parliament.[6] Judicial threats and attacks against journalists increased to the point where journalism in Bulgaria became "dangerous" according to Reporters Without Borders, which ranked Bulgaria 111th globally in press freedom in 2019.[7] Former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria James Pardew said in 2019 that a "national political environment with little government or criminal accountability and no serious opposition to challenge the current government" was in place as a result of collusion, corruption and stifling of the media under Borisov.[8] On 17 March 2022, Borisov was detained after allegations of misuse of EU funds, he was released after spending 24 hours in prison.[9][10]
In 2013 Borisov became the oldest person ever to play for a Bulgarian professional club when he appeared for FC Vitosha Bistritsa in the B Group, the second division of Bulgarian football.[11]
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