Plamen Vasilev Oresharski (Bulgarian: Пламен Василев Орешарски, born 21 February 1960) is a Bulgarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2013 to 2016. 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.
Plamen Oresharski | |
|---|---|
Пламен Орешарски | |
 Official portrait, 2013 | |
| Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
| In office 29 May 2013 – 6 August 2014 | |
| President | Rosen Plevneliev |
| Deputy | Tsvetlin Yovchev Daniela Bobeva Zinaida Zlatanova |
| Preceded by | Marin Raykov |
| Succeeded by | Georgi Bliznashki |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 14 July 2009 – 29 May 2013 | |
| Constituency | 2nd MMC - Burgas |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 17 August 2005 – 27 July 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Sergei Stanishev |
| Preceded by | Milen Veltchev |
| Succeeded by | Simeon Dyankov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Plamen Vasilev Oresharski 21 February 1960 Dupnitsa, PR Bulgaria |
| Political party | Independent (since 2014) |
| Other political affiliations | SDS (until 2003) BSP (2005-2013) |
| Spouse | Elka Georgieva |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of National and World Economy |
| Occupation |
|
Early life and education
editOresharski was born on 21 February 1960 in Dupnitsa, Bulgaria. In addition to his native Bulgarian, he speaks English and Russian.[1] In 1985, Oresharski graduated from the University of National and World Economy. Between 1988 and 1992, Oresharski completed a dissertation on the topic of "Investments and Investment Analysis", earning the equivalent of a doctoral degree.[2] From 1993, Oresharski was Director of the Division for the State Treasury and Debt of the Ministry of Finance. Between 1995 and 1997, he served on the Governing Council of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, and from 1997 to 2000 on the board of the UniCredit Bulbank.[3]
Political career
editWhen Ivan Kostov became Prime Minister in 1997, Oresharski served under his administration as Deputy Minister of Finance, a position he held until the 2001 election, when he decided to lecture at the Higher Institute of Finances and Economics.[4] In 2003, he was nominated by the UDF as a mayoral candidate for Sofia. In the same year, Oresharski left the UDF and was for a while part of the BZNS-NS, DP and "Gergyovden" coalition. In 2004, he was a member of the group that was in charge of drafting the economic reports for president Georgi Parvanov.[5]
Finance minister
editOresharski returned to politics in 2005 as Finance Minister in the Socialist-led government of Sergei Stanishev,[6] a position he held until Boyko Borisov replaced Stanishev as Prime Minister in 2009.
MP
editOresharski was elected as an MP in the list of Bulgarian Socialist Party (Burgas) in 2009.[7][8]
Prime minister
editAfter the May 2013 parliamentary election, which was held earlier than initially expected because of the resignation of the Borisov cabinet, the latter's right-wing party, GERB, won a plurality. However, as it did not possess a majority in parliament and failed to secure backing from another party, the mandate was instead given to the second party: the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). In May 2013 Oresharski was given a mandate to form a cabinet for the BSP by President Rosen Plevneliev.
Following his announcement in media of his proposed cabinet there was a strong dislike amongst some towards Oresharski and his ministers, which led to anti-Oresharski cabinet protests even before the election of such cabinet. Green protesters organized themselves on May 27 and protested on May 28.[9] Nonetheless the cabinet was elected (with one change: Ivan Danov replaced Kalin Tiholov[10]) and he became Prime Minister after a 120–97 vote in Parliament.[11] Hours after the election new national protests were organized for 2 June 2013. However, national protesters reached thousands rallying on streets on 14 June after the appointment of Delyan Peevski, controversial figure, media mogul and previously investigated for corruption, for a head of Bulgarian security agency (DANS). After the first day of protests against his appointment, Peevski gave his resignation, but demonstrators continued demanding the resignation of the whole cabinet. The protests, varying in size from day to day, finally ended with the resignation of the cabinet one year later.[12]
On June 30, 2014, Bulgaria's fourth biggest bank KTB went bankrupt, amid accusations that the government had intentionally withdrawn the deposits of state-owned companies the previous weeks. The bailout would eventually cost the state budget $4 billion, and would double the public debt.
On August 4, 2014 Oresharski submitted the resignation of his cabinet, a little more than a year after his appointment as Prime Minister.[13] The next day parliament voted 180-8 (8 abstained and 44 were absent) to accept the government's resignation.[14] Oresharski on a number occasions described himself as cognizant of the need to "have his resignation in his pocket from the very beginning of his tenure as Prime Minister".[15]
Personal life
editOresharski is married to cardiologist Elka Georgieva and they have one son,[1] Desislav.[16] Oresharski's hobbies include mountaineering and badge collecting from various public events.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b "Пламен Орешарски профил и биография" (in Bulgarian). personi.dir.bg. Archived from the original on 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
- ^ Lilov 2013, p. 381.
- ^ "Кой, кой е в кабинета "Орешарски"" (in Bulgarian). novjivot.info. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
- ^ "Кой е бъдещият министър-председател. Прагматикът, еднакво приемлив и за десни, и за леви правителства" [Who is the future Prime Minister. A pragmatist, equally acceptable to both right and left governments] (in Bulgarian). mediapool.bg. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ Lilov 2013, p. 382.
- ^ "Bulgaria coalition deal ends row". BBC News. 15 August 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ Plamen Vasilev Oresharski (biography) (in Bulgarian), BSP Burgas
- ^ "BSP presented the leaders of lists for national parliament". Bulgarian Socialist Party. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Bulgarians to Protest 'Mafia' Cabinet Proposal". Novinite. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ "В кабинета "Орешарски": Проф. Иван Данов сменя Тихолов!" [Oresharski cabinet prof. Ivan Danov changes Tiholov!] (in Bulgarian). Maritza. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Bulgaria: Naming of Prime Minister Ends Stalemate". The New York Times. Associated Press. 30 May 2013. p. A8.
- ^ ""Протест на радостта" след оставката на Орешарски" ["The protest of joy" after Oresharski's resignation]. novini.bg (in Bulgarian). 23 July 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Socialist-backed Oresharski Cabinet resigns in Bulgaria". Deutsche Welle. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Bulgarian Parliament Approves Government Resignation". Novinite. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Орешарски няма усещане да е загубил всички, уверен е, че ще успокои нещата, готов е на преговори заради "изнервената ситуация", която била "доста негативна" за развитието на страната" [Oresharski does not feel like he has lost everyone, he is sure that he will calm things down, he is ready to negotiate because of the "nervous situation" which was "quite negative" for the development of the country]. Mediapool. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Годината на тримата премиери: Борисов-Райков-Орешарски - 71:78:214" (in Bulgarian). Pressa Daily. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
Bibliography
edit- Lilov, Grigor (2013). Най-богатите българи (1st ed.). Sofia: „Кайлас” ЕООД. ISBN 978-954-92098-9-1.