List of heads of state of Bulgaria

This is a list of the heads of the modern Bulgarian state, from the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria to the present day.

It also lists the general secretaries of the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1948–1990. From 1948 onwards, the general secretary was the country's de facto chief executive.

Prince Reign House Claim
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Reign start Reign end Duration
  Alexander I
Александър I
1857–1893
(Lived: 36 years)
29 April 1879 7 September 1886
(Abdicated)
7 years, 131 days Battenberg Elected by the First Grand National Assembly
  Ferdinand I
Фердинанд I
1861–1948
(Lived: 87 years)
7 July 1887 5 October 1908 21 years, 90 days Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry Elected by the Third Grand National Assembly
  Denotes Regent
Tsar Reign House Claim
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Reign start Reign end Duration
  Ferdinand I
Фердинанд I
1861–1948
(Lived: 87 years)
5 October 1908 3 October 1918
(Abdicated)
9 years, 363 days Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry Proclaimed himself as Tsar
  Boris III
Борис III
1894–1943
(Lived: 49 years)
3 October 1918 28 August 1943
(Died)
24 years, 329 days Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry Son of Ferdinand I
  Simeon II
Симеон II
Born 1937
(87 years old)
28 August 1943 15 September 1946
(Monarchy abolished)
3 years, 18 days Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry Son of Boris III
  Kiril, Prince of Preslav
Кирил, принц Преславски
1895–1945
(Lived: 49 years)
28 August 1943 9 September 1944
(Deposed)
1 year, 12 days Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry First Regency Council
For Simeon II
  Bogdan Filov
Богдан Филов
1883–1945
(Lived: 61 years)
  Lt. General
Nikola Mihov
Никола Михов
1891–1945
(Lived: 53 years)
  Todor Pavlov
Тодор Павлов
1890–1977
(Lived: 87 years)
9 September 1944 15 September 1946
(Monarchy abolished)
2 years, 6 days Second Regency Council
For Simeon II
  Venelin Ganev
Венелин Ганев
1880–1966
(Lived: 86 years)
  Tsvetko Boboshevski
Цвятко Бобошевски
1884–1952
(Lived: 68 years)
Status
  Denotes Acting Head of State
Head of State Term of office Duration Political party
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Took office Left office
Chairman of the Provisional Presidency
  Vasil Kolarov
Васил Коларов
1877–1950
(Lived: 72 years)
15 September 1946 9 December 1947 1 year, 85 days BKP
Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly
  Mincho Neychev
Минчо Нейчев
1887–1956
(Lived: 69 years)
9 December 1947 27 May 1950 2 years, 169 days BKP
  Georgi Damyanov
Георги Дамянов
1892–1958
(Lived: 66 years)
27 May 1950 27 November 1958† 8 years, 184 days BKP
  Georgi Kulishev
Георги Кулишев
1885–1974
(Lived: 89 years)
27 November 1958 30 November 1958 3 days BKP
  Nikolay Georgiev [bg]
Николай Георгиев
1906–1987
(Lived: 81 years)
BZNS
  Dimitar Ganev
Димитър Ганев
1898–1964
(Lived: 65 years)
30 November 1958 20 April 1964† 5 years, 142 days BKP
  Georgi Kulishev
Георги Кулишев
1885–1974
(Lived: 89 years)
20 April 1964 23 April 1964 3 days BKP
  Nikolay Georgiev [bg]
Николай Георгиев
1906–1987
(Lived: 81 years)
BZNS
  Georgi Traykov
Георги Трайков
1898–1975
(Lived: 76 years)
23 April 1964 7 July 1971 7 years, 75 days BZNS
Chairman of the State Council
  Todor Zhivkov
Тодор Живков
1911–1998
(Lived: 86 years)
7 July 1971 17 November 1989 18 years, 133 days BKP
  Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)
17 November 1989 3 April 1990 137 days BKP
Chairman (President) of the Republic
  Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)
(Apr) 1990 3 April 1990 6 July 1990 94 days BSP
  Stanko Todorov
Станко Тодоров
1920–1996
(Lived: 76 years)
6 July 1990 17 July 1990 11 days BSP
  Nikolai Todorov
Николай Тодоров
1921–2003
(Lived: 82 years)
17 July 1990 1 August 1990 15 days BSP
  Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)
(Jul–Aug) 1990 1 August 1990 15 November 1990 106 days SDS

General Secretaries of the Bulgarian Communist Party (1948–1990)

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General Secretary Term of office Notes
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Took office Left office Duration
  Georgi Dimitrov
Георги Димитров
1882–1949
(Lived: 67 years)
27 December 1948 2 July 1949 187 days Also Prime Minister (1946–1949)
  Valko Chervenkov
Вълко Червенков
1900–1980
(Lived: 80 years)
2 July 1949 4 March 1954 4 years, 245 days Also Prime Minister (1950–1956)
  Todor Zhivkov
Тодор Живков
1911–1998
(Lived: 86 years)
4 March 1954 10 November 1989 35 years, 251 days Also Prime Minister (1962–1971), and Chairman of the Council of State (1971–1989)
  Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)
10 November 1989 2 February 1990 84 days Also Chairman of the Council of State (1989–1990)
President Term of office Duration Political party
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Took office Left office
Chairman (President) of the Republic
  Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)
(Jul-Aug) 1990 15 November 1990 22 January 1992 1 year, 68 days SDS
President of the Republic
  Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)
1992 22 January 1992 22 January 1997 5 years SDS
  Petar Stoyanov
Петър Стоянов
Born 1952
(72 years old)
1996 22 January 1997 22 January 2002 5 years SDS
  Georgi Parvanov
Георги Първанов
Born 1957
(67 years old)
2001
2006
22 January 2002 22 January 2012 10 years BSP
  Rosen Plevneliev
Росен Плевнелиев
Born 1964
(60 years old)
2011 22 January 2012 22 January 2017 5 years GERB
  Rumen Radev
Румен Радев
Born 1963
(61 years old)
2016
2021
22 January 2017 Incumbent[a] 7 years, 302 days Independent
(BSP-nominated)

Timeline from 1946

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Rumen RadevRosen PlevnelievGeorgi ParvanovPetar StoyanovZhelyu ZhelevNikolai TodorovStanko TodorovPetar MladenovGeorgi TraykovDimitar GanevNikolay Georgiev (politician)Georgi KulishevTodor ZhivkovGeorgi DamyanovValko ChervenkovMincho NeychevVasil KolarovGeorgi Dimitrov

Head of state titles

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State Years Title
  Principality of Bulgaria 1879–1908 Prince of Bulgaria
  Kingdom of Bulgaria 1908–1946 Tsar of Bulgaria
  People's Republic of Bulgaria 1946–1947 Chairman of the Provisional
Presidency
1947–1971 Chairman of the Presidium
of the National Assembly
1971–1990 Chairman of the State
Council
1990 Chairman (President) of
the Republic
  Republic of Bulgaria 1990–1992
1992–present President of the Republic

See also

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Footnotes and references

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  1. ^ Radev's mandate expires on 22 January 2027.
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