Boyko Borisov

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Metodiev and the family name is Borisov.

Boyko Borisov
Бойко Борисов
Prime Minister of Bulgaria
In office
4 May 2017 – 12 May 2021
PresidentRumen Radev
Deputy
Preceded byOgnyan Gerdzhikov
Succeeded byStefan Yanev
In office
7 November 2014 – 27 January 2017
President
Deputy
Preceded byGeorgi Bliznashki
Succeeded byOgnyan Gerdzhikov
In office
27 July 2009 – 13 March 2013
President
Deputy
Preceded bySergey Stanishev
Succeeded byMarin Raykov
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 April 2023
Constituency16th MMC – Plovdiv
In office
21 May 2013 – 7 November 2014
Constituency25th MMC – Sofia
Leader of GERB
Incumbent
Assumed office
10 January 2010
Preceded byTsvetan Tsvetanov
Mayor of Sofia
In office
10 November 2005 – 27 July 2009
Preceded byStefan Sofiyanski
Succeeded byYordanka Fandakova
Personal details
Born
Boyko Metodiev Borisov

(1959-06-13) 13 June 1959 (age 65)
Sofia, Bulgaria
Political partyGERB (since 2006)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
Stela Borisova
​
(divorced)​
ChildrenVeneta Borisova
Signature
Websitewww.boykoborissov.bg
Association football career
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Vitosha Bistritsa[1] 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Boyko Metodiev Borisov (Bulgarian: Бойко Методиев Борисов, IPA: [ˈbɔjko mɛˈtɔdiɛf boˈrisof]; 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]

  1. ^ Boyko Borisov at Soccerway
  2. ^ "Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) – Bulgaria". World Bank. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Dutch minister 'Bloks' Bulgaria's Schengen accession". Euractiv. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Bulgarian elections marred by claims of voting fraud". The Financial Times. 10 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Chaos, Fraud Mar Bulgaria's Local Election and Referendum". OCCRP. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Bulgaria Election Body Ignores Questions About EU Elections". BalkanInsight. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Bulgaria RSF". Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Trump and Bulgaria: Attacks on free media damage democracy". The Hill. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Ex-PM Borissov released following arrest". 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Bulgarian ex-PM Borissov arrested after EU Prosecutor's office probe". 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Former Prime Minister becomes Bulgaria's oldest player". Reuters. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2014.