76 Notable alumni of University of National and World Economy
Updated: May 28, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of National and World Economy is ranked #2,932 in the world and #7 in Bulgaria by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 76 notable alumni from University of National and World Economy sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of National and World Economy won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Pedro Luís da Fonseca
1957-. (aged 69)
minister
economist
politician
Pedro Luís da Fonseca is an Angolan politician and economist. He served as Minister of Economy and Planning of Angola from 2017 to 2019.
2. Venelin Tsachevsky
1948-. (aged 78)
diplomat
economist
historian
Venelin Tsachevsky is a Bulgarian scholar, economist, historian, political researcher and diplomat.
3. Nikola Minkov
1987-. (aged 39)
association football player
Nikola Minkov is a former Bulgarian footballer who played as a midfielder, and now works in marketing and SEO optimization.
4. Aneta Avramova
1967-. (aged 59)
economist
Aneta Dimitrova Avramova is a Bulgarian economist and public relations specialist.
5. Aliosman Imamov
1953-2025 (aged 72)
teacher
politician
Aliosman Ibraim Imamov was a Bulgarian politician who was a member of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, he served in the National Assembly from 2001 to 2017.
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6. Milena Nikolova
1984-. (aged 42)
writer
Milena Nikolova is a Bulgarian writer.
7. Ivan Iskrov
1967-. (aged 59)
banker
economist
politician
Ivan Iskrov was the governor of the Bulgarian National Bank from October 2003 to July 2015.
8. Mariana Kotzeva
1967-. (aged 59)
statistician
econometrician
Mariana Mihaylova Kotzeva is a Bulgarian statistician and econometrician. Since the beginning of 2017 she has been the acting director-general of Eurostat, the directorate-general of the European Commission responsible for providing statistical information to the institutions of the European Union and for harmonizing statistical methods across the Union. She is also the former president of the National Statistical Institute of...
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9. Elena Alexieva
1975-. (aged 51)
playwright
poet
writer
translator
university teacher
Elena Alexieva is a Bulgarian writer.
10. Statty Stattev
1955-. (aged 71)
economist
Stati Vasilev Statev is a Bulgarian scientist, economist and mathematician, and professor at University of National and World Economy. He is the rector of that same university since December 19, 2011.
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11. Hristo Aleksiev
1980-. (aged 46)
politician
Hristo Alexiev is a Bulgarian politician who has held significant positions in the Bulgarian government, including serving as Minister of Transport and Communications in three caretaker governments between 2021 and 2023. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policies from 2022 to 2023.
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12. Zahari Zhandov
1911-1998 (aged 87)
actor
film director
Zahari Zhandov was a Bulgarian film director, script writer and cinematographer. He was born on 1 June 1911 in the city of Rousse. At first he studied mathematics and then administrative sciences at Free University of Political and Economic Sciences, today UNWE in Sofia. His debut in film-making was with the a short documentary One Day in Sofia (Edin den...
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13. Nikolay Milkov
1957-. (aged 69)
diplomat
Nikolay Milkov is a Bulgarian diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2 August 2022 to 3 May 2023. Prior to his appointment, he was the Bulgarian Ambassador to France. He had also served as the Ambassador to Canada and Romania.
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14. Nedzhmi Ali
1972-. (aged 54)
economist
teacher
politician
Nedzhmi Ali is a Bulgarian politician of Bulgarian-Turkish descent and Member of the European Parliament (MEP). He is a member of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms.
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15. Monika Panayotova
1983-. (aged 43)
politician
economist
Monika Panayotova is a Doctor of Political Science, with interests in the field of the EU security and defence policy. Bulgarian politician – Monika Panayotova has been appointed as Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018, responsible for the relations with the European Parliament during the Bulgaria's presidency (the so-called - Ministre Délégué) since...
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16. Maria Velcheva
1976-. (aged 50)
chess player
Maria Nikolaeva Velcheva is a Bulgarian chess player who received the FIDE title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in 1999. She is a five-time winner of the Bulgarian Women's Chess Championship (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001).
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17. Iliyan Todorov
1980-. (aged 46)
politician
Ilian Sashov Todorov is a Bulgarian politician from Attack. From 2011 he worked as a regional coordinator in Attack for South-West Bulgaria. On the 2013 election he was leading the lists in two regions.
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18. Vladislav Panev
1976-. (aged 50)
financier
politician
Vladislav Panev is a Bulgarian economist and politician. He is one of the co-chairs of the Green Movement. He has been a member of the National Assembly (Bulgaria) since the April 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election.
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19. Aleksandar Nenkov
1983-. (aged 43)
politician
Aleksandar Rumenov Nenkov is a Bulgarian politician serving as a member of the National Assembly since 2009. He was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2015 and from 2021 to 2022.
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20. Nayden Zelenogorski
1961-. (aged 65)
politician
Nayden Zelenogorsky is a Bulgarian politician and former mayor of Pleven Municipality and a member of parliament.
21. Martin Dimitrov
1977-. (aged 49)
politician
economist
Martin Dimitrov is a Bulgarian politician and former Member of the European Parliament. He was the leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) from 2008 to 2012.
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22. Nikolay Sabev
1960-. (aged 66)
civil servant
businessperson
politician
Nikolay Yordanov Sabev is a Bulgarian businessman and politician. He was minister of transport and communications in the Petkov government.
23. Antonina Stoyanova
1952-. (aged 74)
diplomat
politician
Antonina Stoyanova, née Naydenova, is a Bulgarian IP lawyer, diplomat and social activist, who was the First Lady of Bulgaria between 1997 and 2002, as the wife of the President Petar Stoyanov. She received her law degree and her PhD in international relations from the University of Leipzig.
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24. Dimitar Radev
1956-. (aged 70)
banker
economist
Dimitar Radev is a Bulgarian economist who since July 14, 2015 has been governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, and member of the Governing council of the European Central Bank since 2026.
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25. Kiril Dobrev
1972-. (aged 54)
politician
Kiril Nikolaev Dobrev is a Bulgarian politician. He has been a member of the National Assembly since 2024, having previously served from 2005 to 2017. He is the son of Nikolay Dobrev.
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26. Antoaneta Vassileva
1960-. (aged 66)
university teacher
economist
Antoaneta Vassileva is a Bulgarian economist and Professor of Global Economics and International Economic Relations at the International Economic Relations and Business Department at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE). She was Dean of the International Economics and Politics Faculty of the UNWE from 2011 until 2014.
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27. Dragomir Zakov
1975-. (aged 51)
diplomat
minister
politician
Dragomir Zakov is a Bulgarian politician and diplomat, who served as the Minister of Defense in the Petkov Government from March to August 2022. He served as head of the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Bulgaria to NATO from 25 March 2019 to 1 March 2022.
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28. Radi Naidenov
1962-. (aged 64)
diplomat
politician
Radi Naydenov is a Bulgarian politician and diplomat. He joined the Bulgarian diplomatic service in 1992, and in 2002 he was Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Defense. From 2002 until 2005, he was Head of Cabinet of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He then served as Bulgaria’s ambassador to Germany, and was the Foreign Minister of...
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29. Mladen Marinov
1971-. (aged 55)
military officer
jurist
politician
Mladen Naydenov Marinov is a Bulgarian politician serving as a member of the National Assembly since 2021. From 2018 to 2020, he served as minister of interior.
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30. Ivaylo Moskovski
1972-. (aged 54)
politician
Ivaylo Moskovski is a Bulgarian politician and former Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications in Bulgaria.
31. Silvi Petrov
1950-. (aged 76)
politician
Silvi Kirilov Petrov is a Bulgarian politician who has been the Minister of Health since 2025. A member of the ITN party, he previously served as Member of the National Assembly from 2024 to 2025 and from 2021 to 2022.
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32. Ilian Vassilev
1956-. (aged 70)
diplomat
writer
Ilian Vassilev is a Bulgarian diplomat, writer, and political blogger. He was President of the Bulgarian Foreign Investment Agency from 1997 to 2000, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Russian Federation from 2000 to 2006, following which he became Chairman of Deloitte in Bulgaria. At present he is Managing Partner of his own consulting...
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33. Desislava Taneva
1972-. (aged 54)
politician
Desislava Zhekova Taneva, born 9 June 1972, is a Bulgarian politician who is the Minister of Agriculture and Food in the Second Borisov Government.
34. Rumen Ovcharov
1952-. (aged 74)
economist
engineer
physicist
politician
Rumen Stoyanov Ovtcharov is a Bulgarian politician, engineer, physicist and economist. He was a member of the National Parliament on four occasions and was the Minister of the Economy and Energy between 17 August 2005 and 18 July 2007.
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35. Georgi Pirinski, Jr
1948-. (aged 78)
politician
Georgi Pirinski is a Bulgarian politician of the Bulgarian Communist Party and after 1990 of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). He was a member of seven National Parliaments (1990 – 2013) and was the Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria from 2005 to 2009. Member of the European Parliament between 2014 and 2019.
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36. Ahmed Majdalani
1955-. (aged 71)
university teacher
politician
Ahmed Majdalani is a Palestinian politician, university professor and researcher. A former Palestinian government minister, he currently serves as Secretary-General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF) and is a senior member of the PLO Executive Committee which is considered the highest political level in Palestine.
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37. Kalina Krumova
1985-. (aged 41)
journalist
politician
Kalina Venelinova Krumova is a Bulgarian politician, television presenter and journalist. She was elected to the 41st National Assembly of Bulgaria as a member of the Ataka Party in the 2009 parliamentary election. She is the youngest MP in Bulgaria.
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38. Svetoslav Vitkov
1971-. (aged 55)
musician
politician
Svetoslav Emilov Vitkov is a Bulgarian singer and politician, best known for his work with Hipodil. In 2013, he founded the political party People's Voice.
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39. Traicho Traikov
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Traycho Dimitrov Traykov is a Bulgarian politician. He was a Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy from 2009 to 2012. In February 2012 he launched an examination of dams in the south of the country after malfunction complaints. In March 2012 it was reported that he had been dismissed from his position allegedly for delaying work on energy projects; Bulgarian-language...
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40. Lyudmila Filipova
1977-. (aged 49)
actor
writer
journalist
Lyudmila Orlinova Filipova is a Bulgarian novelist and journalist. Since 2006, Filipova has written many best-selling novels. She is known for her critically-acclaimed 2014 historical novel The War of the Letters.
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41. Temenuzhka Petkova
1967-. (aged 59)
accountant
politician
Temenuzhka Petkova is a Bulgarian politician who is currently the Minister of Finance of Bulgaria. A member of the GERB party, she previously served as the Minister of Energy from 2014 to 2017 and then from 2017 to 2021.
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42. Marin Raykov
1960-. (aged 66)
diplomat
politician
Marin Raykov Nikolov is a Bulgarian politician and diplomat who was appointed to serve as a caretaker Prime Minister of Bulgaria and minister of foreign affairs of Bulgaria on 12 March 2013 by Bulgarian president Rosen Plevneliev. He left office on 29 May 2013 with his interim deputy PM Ekaterina Zakharieva.
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43. Antonia Petrova Beredin
1984-. (aged 42)
actor
beauty pageant contestant
model
Antonia Petrova is a Bulgarian lawyer, actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was the winner of Miss Bulgaria 2009. She represented the country at Miss World 2009 which took place in December 2009. She crowned her successor Miss Bulgaria, Romina Andonova, in April 2010.
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44. Ivaylo Kalfin
1964-. (aged 62)
politician
economist
Ivaylo Georgiev Kalfin is a Bulgarian politician. A three-term deputy, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Deputy Prime Minister from 2005 to 2009 in the Stanishev Cabinet. Kalfin was a Member of European Parliament between 2009 and 2014. Between 7 November 2014 and May 2016 he served as Deputy Prime-Minister of Bulgaria, and Minister of Labor and...
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45. Kristian Vigenin
1975-. (aged 51)
politician
Kristian Ivanov Vigenin is a Bulgarian politician, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, and a Member of the European Parliament.
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46. Aleksandar Tomov
1954-. (aged 72)
politician
Aleksandar Trifonov Tomov is a Bulgarian politician, economist, and academic.
47. Svetoslav Minkov
1902-1966 (aged 64)
editing staff
science fiction writer
writer
journalist
translator
Svetoslav Konstantinov Minkov was a Bulgarian absurdist fiction writer.
48. Georgi Minchev
1943-2001 (aged 58)
composer
songwriter
television presenter
singer
Georgi Minchev, also called Gosho Minchev or Zhoro Minchev, was a Bulgarian rock musician, singer, songwriter and TV presenter.
49. G. M. Dimitrov
1903-1972 (aged 69)
politician
Georgi Mihov Dimitrov, known as Gemeto (Bulgarian: Гемето, lit. 'The G. M.') to distinguish him from Georgi Dimitrov Mihaylov, was a Bulgarian politician, a leading figure of the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union during the 1930s and 1940s, and an opponent of fascism and communism alike.
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50. Valentin Mihov
1954-. (aged 72)
association football player
Valentin Mihov is a former Bulgarian football player. He is a former president of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) and the Bulgarian Professional Football League (PFL).
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51. Stefan Sofiyanski
1951-. (aged 75)
politician
Stefan Antonov Sofiyanski is a Bulgarian politician who served as interim Prime Minister of Bulgaria in 1997 and was a three-term Mayor of Sofia. He was a leading member of the Union of Democratic Forces.
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52. Nikolina Angelkova
1979-. (aged 47)
politician
Nikolina Angelkova is a Bulgarian politician who was the Minister of Tourism from 4 May 2017 to 23 July 2020, and has also served as the Minister of Tourism from November 2014 to January 2017. She serves as a member of the parliament for the GERB.
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53. Đoko Rosić
1932-2014 (aged 82)
actor
film actor
Đorđe "Đoko" Rosić was a Serbian-Bulgarian actor who was also well known in Hungary.
54. Plamen Oresharski
1960-. (aged 66)
minister
economist
politician
Plamen Vasilev Oresharski is a Bulgarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2013 to 2014. Affiliated with the Bulgarian Socialist Party, he previously served as Member of the National Assembly from 2009 to 2013, Minister of Finance from 2005 to 2009 and Deputy Minister of Finance from 1997 to 2001.
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55. Reneta Indzhova
1953-. (aged 73)
politician
economist
Reneta Ivanova Indzhova is a Bulgarian economist who served as the caretaker Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 1994 to 1995, appointed by President Zhelyu Zhelev. A political independent, she is the first woman to have served as Prime Minister in Bulgaria. Prior to that, she chaired the Privatisation Agency and later on, from 2012 to 2014, she chaired the National...
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56. Angel Karaliychev
1902-1972 (aged 70)
writer
children's writer
Angel Ivanov Karaliychev was a Bulgarian writer of children's literature.
57. Elena Poptodorova
1951-. (aged 75)
diplomat
politician
Elena Poptodorova is a Bulgarian diplomat who served as Bulgarian Ambassador to the United States from 2002 to 2008 and from 2010 to 2016. A former politician, she previously served as Member of the National Assembly from 1991 to 2001.
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58. Nikolai Mladenov
1972-. (aged 54)
politician
Nikolay Evtimov Mladenov is a Bulgarian politician and diplomat. He served as Minister of Defense of Bulgaria from 27 July 2009 to 27 January 2010 and as the Minister of foreign affairs from 2010 to 2013 in the government of then Prime minister Boyko Borisov. Prior to his cabinet appointments, he was a Member of the European Parliament from 2007...
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59. Vanya Grigorova
1978-. (aged 48)
politician
Vanya Rumenova Grigorova is a Bulgarian economist, trade unionist, labour activist, and politician. She was an economic counselor to the Confederation of Labour Podkrepa from 2015 to 2023. She unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Sofia in 2023 and is currently a member of the Sofia City Council.
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60. Emiliyan Stanev
1907-1979 (aged 72)
civil servant
writer
politician
Emiliyan Stanev was the pseudonym of Nikola Stoyanov Stanev (Никола Стоянов Станев, 28 February 1907 – 15 March 1979), a 20th-century Bulgarian prose writer.
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61. Maya Manolova
1965-. (aged 61)
lawyer
politician
Maya Bozhidarova Manolova is a Bulgarian politician and the leader of the political movement Stand Up.BG, part of the Stand Up! Mafia, get out! coalition. She was formerly the vice-chairperson as well as a deputy in the Bulgarian National Assembly, as well National Ombudsman of Bulgaria.
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62. Ivan Kostov
1949-. (aged 77)
politician
economist
Ivan Yordanov Kostov is a Bulgarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 1997 to 2001. A member of the SDS party, which he led from 1994 to 2001, he was previously Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1992. Following his premiership, Kostov founded a new political party, the DSB, and served as Member of the National Assembly...
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63. Nguyen Thi Doan
1951-. (aged 75)
politician
Madam Nguyễn Thị Doan is a Vietnamese educator, former legislator, and Vietnamese politician, who was Vice President of Vietnam from 2007 to 2016. Nguyễn Thị Doan is a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and a deputy to the National Assembly of Vietnam for Hà Nam Province.
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64. Grisha Ganchev
1962-. (aged 64)
businessperson
amateur wrestler
Grisha Ganchev is a Bulgarian businessman and oligarch who is the owner of a multitude of businesses in Bulgaria, such as the oil distributing company Petrol AD which has 470 petrol stations, 80 petrol depots and 3 petrol port terminals throughout the country, Litex Commerce AD company that has a focus on petrol products as well, Litex Motors AD and...
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65. Dimitar Glavchev
1963-. (aged 63)
politician
Dimitar Borisov Glavchev is a Bulgarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2024 to 2025, leading a caretaker government. A political independent, he is currently the Chairman of the Chamber of Audit. He was previously a member of the GERB party and served as member of the National Assembly from 2009 to 2021. In 2017, he briefly...
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66. Desislava Radeva
1969-. (aged 57)
office manager
Desislava Kirilova Radeva is a Bulgarian public figure and was the First Lady of Bulgaria from 22 January 2017 to 23 January 2026, as the wife of former President Rumen Radev.
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67. Ivo Prokopiev
1971-. (aged 55)
entrepreneur
financier
Ivo Prokopiev is a Bulgarian entrepreneur and publisher.
68. Mustafa Karadaya
1970-. (aged 56)
politician
Mustafa Sali Karadayi is a Turkish Bulgarian politician who has been a Member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria since 2013. Throughout his tenure, he also served as the leader of his party, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), from 2016 to 2023.
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69. Maria Ilieva
1977-. (aged 49)
singer
Maria Ilieva is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter and producer. She is recognized as one of the most successful female vocal artists of the contemporary Bulgarian music scene. In the last over 20 years of active solo career, she has released over 30 hit singles, two award-winning studio albums, a maxi single and a greatest hits album. She has received over...
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70. Kristalina Georgieva
1953-. (aged 73)
economist
chief executive officer
university teacher
politician
Kristalina Ivanova Georgieva-Kinova is a Bulgarian economist who has served as the 12th managing director of the International Monetary Fund since 2019. She is the first person from an emerging market economy to lead the institution.
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71. Nguyen Sinh Hung
1946-. (aged 80)
politician
Nguyễn Sinh Hùng is a Vietnamese politician who served as Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam from 2011 to 2016. Nguyễn Sinh Hùng was previously one of the country's four "key leaders" (lãnh đạo chủ chốt), along with Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, President Trương Tấn Sang and Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, during the 11th National Congress...
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72. Galab Donev
1967-. (aged 59)
civil servant
Galab Spasov Donev is a Bulgarian politician who served as the caretaker Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2 August 2022 to 6 June 2023. He is the longest-serving caretaker prime minister in Bulgaria's history to date.
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73. Desislava Atanasova
1978-. (aged 48)
lawyer
judge
politician
Desislava Valcheva Atanasova is a Bulgarian lawyer and politician serving as a judge of the Constitutional Court since 2024. She was a member of the National Assembly from 2009 to 2012 and from 2013 to 2024. From 2012 to 2013, she served as Minister of Health. On 31 January 2025 Atanasova was chosen to represent Bulgaria in the Venice Commission.
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74. Liliana Pavlova
1977-. (aged 49)
politician
Lilyana Pavlova Nikolova is a Bulgarian politician from the GERB party who served as Minister of Regional Development and Public Works in Boyko Borisov's first and second cabinet and as Minister of Bulgaria's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Borisov's third cabinet.
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75. Vladislav Goranov
1977-. (aged 49)
financier
politician
Vladislav Ivanov Goranov is a Bulgarian economist and politician, who served as Minister of Finance of the Republic of Bulgaria until late July 2020. In February 2023 Goranov was sanctioned by the US government for his extensive involvement in corruption in Bulgaria.
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76. Tsvetan Tsvetanov
1965-. (aged 61)
politician
Tsvetan Genchev Tsvetanov is a Bulgarian politician and former government official. He served as the chairman of the GERB party until 2009. On 8 July 2009, following his party's victory in the 2009 parliamentary election, he was designated Minister of the Interior by party leader Boyko Borisov.
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