Zhelyu Zhelev
Zhelyu Zhelev | |
|---|---|
Желю Желев | |
| President of Bulgaria | |
| In office 22 January 1992 – 22 January 1997 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Vice President | Blaga Dimitrova |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Chairman) |
| Succeeded by | Petar Stoyanov |
| Chairman (President) of Bulgaria | |
| In office 1 August 1990 – 22 January 1992 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Deputy | Atanas Semerdzhiev |
| Preceded by | Petar Mladenov |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as President) |
| Leader of the Union of Democratic Forces | |
| In office 7 December 1989 – 1 August 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Petar Beron |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev 3 March 1935 |
| Died | 30 January 2015 (aged 79) Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Resting place | Central Sofia Cemetery |
| Party | Independent (1990–2015) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse | |
| Children | Mitko (died 80 days after birth) Yordanka (died in 1993) Stanka |
| Occupation |
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| Signature | |
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Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev (Bulgarian: Желю Митев Желев; 3 March 1935 – 30 January 2015) was a Bulgarian politician and former dissident who served as the first democratically elected and non-Communist president of Bulgaria, from 1990 to 1997. Zhelev was one of the most prominent figures of the 1989 Bulgarian Revolution, which ended the 35 year rule of President Todor Zhivkov. A member of the Union of Democratic Forces, he was elected as president by the 7th Grand National Assembly. Two years later, he won Bulgaria's first direct presidential elections. He lost his party's nomination for his 1996 reelection campaign after losing a tough primary race to Petar Stoyanov.