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List of heads of state of Bulgaria

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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.

[[Principality of Bulgaria]] (1878–1908)

Prince	Reign	House	Claim	Portrait	Name
(Birth–Death)	Reign start	Reign end	Duration
[[File:Alexander I of Bulgaria by Dimitar Karastoyanov.jpg	100px]]	Alexander I
Александър I
1857–1893
(Lived: 36 years)	29 April 1879	7 September 1886
(Abdicated)		Battenberg	Elected by the First Grand National Assembly
[[File:Zar Ferdinand Bulgarien.jpg	100px]]	Ferdinand I
Фердинанд I
1861–1948
(Lived: 87 years)	7 July 1887	5 October 1908		Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry	Elected by the Third Grand National Assembly

[[Tsardom of Bulgaria (1908–1946)|Tsardom of Bulgaria]] (1908–1946)

Tsar	Reign	House	Claim
(Birth–Death)	Reign start	Reign end	Duration
[[File:Zar Ferdinand Bulgarien.jpg	100px]]	Ferdinand I
Фердинанд I
1861–1948
(Lived: 87 years)	5 October 1908	3 October 1918
(Abdicated)		Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry	Proclaimed himself as Tsar
[[File:Boris III of Bulgaria.jpg	100px]]	Boris III
Борис III
1894–1943
(Lived: 49 years)	3 October 1918	28 August 1943
(Died)		Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry	Son of Ferdinand I
[[File:BASA-3K-15-302-26-Simeon-The Prince of Turnovo.jpeg	100px]]	Simeon II
Симеон II
Born 1937
( years old)	28 August 1943	15 September 1946
(Monarchy abolished)		Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry	Son of Boris III
[[File:BASA-3K-15-273-9-Prince Kyril of Bulgaria.jpeg	100px]]	Kiril, Prince of Preslav
Кирил, принц Преславски
1895–1945
(Lived: 49 years)	28 August 1943	9 September 1944
(Deposed)		Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry	First Regency Council
For Simeon II
[[File:Богдан Филов.jpg	100px]]	Bogdan Filov
Богдан Филов
1883–1945
(Lived: 61 years)	—
[[File:BASA-3K-15-250-9-Nikola Mihov (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Lt. General
Nikola Mihov
Никола Михов
1891–1945
(Lived: 53 years)
[[File:Todor Pavlov.jpg	100px]]	Todor Pavlov
Тодор Павлов
1890–1977
(Lived: 87 years)	9 September 1944	15 September 1946
(Monarchy abolished)		—	Second Regency Council
For Simeon II
[[File:BASA 118K-2-87 Venelin Ganev (retouched).jpg	100px]]	Venelin Ganev
Венелин Ганев
1880–1966
(Lived: 86 years)
[[File:Tsvyatko Boboshevski.png	100px]]	Tsvetko Boboshevski
Цвятко Бобошевски
1884–1952
(Lived: 68 years)

[[People's Republic of Bulgaria]] (1946–1990)

;Status

Head of State	Term of office	Duration	Political party	Portrait	Name
(Birth–Death)	Election	Took office	Left office	Chairman of the Provisional Presidency	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union}};"	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union}};"	Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union}};"	Chairman of the State Council	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Chairman (President) of the Republic	Bulgarian Socialist Party}};"	Bulgarian Socialist Party}};"	Bulgarian Socialist Party}};"	Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)}};"
[[File:V.kolarov.jpg	100px]]	Vasil Kolarov
Васил Коларов
1877–1950
(Lived: 72 years)	—	15 September 1946	9 December 1947		BKP
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S99287, Berlin, III. SED-Parteitag, Rede Mintscho Neitschev cropped.jpg	100px]]	Mincho Neychev
Минчо Нейчев
1887–1956
(Lived: 69 years)	—	9 December 1947	27 May 1950		BKP
[[File:No image.svg	100px]]	Georgi Damyanov
Георги Дамянов
1892–1958
(Lived: 66 years)	—	27 May 1950	27 November 1958†		BKP
[[File:Georgi Kulishev portrait.jpg	100px]]	Georgi Kulishev
Георги Кулишев
1885–1974
(Lived: 89 years)	—	27 November 1958	30 November 1958		BKP
[[File:No image.svg	100px]]	****
Николай Георгиев
1906–1987
(Lived: 81 years)	—	BZNS
[[File:No image.svg	100px]]	Dimitar Ganev
Димитър Ганев
1898–1964
(Lived: 65 years)	—	30 November 1958	20 April 1964†		BKP
[[File:Georgi Kulishev portrait.jpg	100px]]	Georgi Kulishev
Георги Кулишев
1885–1974
(Lived: 89 years)	—	20 April 1964	23 April 1964		BKP
[[File:No image.svg	100px]]	****
Николай Георгиев
1906–1987
(Lived: 81 years)	—	BZNS
[[File:Kongres of MFO 1923 (Georgi Traychev).jpg	100px]]	Georgi Traykov
Георги Трайков
1898–1975
(Lived: 76 years)	—	23 April 1964	7 July 1971		BZNS
[[File:Todor Zhivkov , eerste secretaris Communistische Partij en president van Bulgari, Bestanddeelnr 924-8077 (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Todor Zhivkov
Тодор Живков
1911–1998
(Lived: 86 years)	—	7 July 1971	17 November 1989		BKP
[[File:Petar Mladenov 1978 (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)	—	17 November 1989	3 April 1990		BKP
[[File:Petar Mladenov 1978 (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)	(Apr) 1990	3 April 1990	6 July 1990		BSP
[[File:Stanko Todorov.jpg	100px]]	Stanko Todorov
Станко Тодоров
1920–1996
(Lived: 76 years)	—	6 July 1990	17 July 1990		BSP
[[File:Nikolai Todorov (1972).tiff	100px]]	Nikolai Todorov
Николай Тодоров
1921–2003
(Lived: 82 years)	—	17 July 1990	1 August 1990		BSP
[[File:Zhelev-1990.jpg	100px]]	Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)	(Jul–Aug) 1990	1 August 1990	15 November 1990		SDS

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

General Secretary	Term of office	Notes	Portrait	Name
(Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"	Bulgarian Communist Party}};"
[[File:Georgi Dimitrow.png	100px]]	Georgi Dimitrov
Георги Димитров
1882–1949
(Lived: 67 years)	27 December 1948	2 July 1949		Also Prime Minister (1946–1949)
[[File:Valko Chervenkov.jpg	100px]]	Valko Chervenkov
Вълко Червенков
1900–1980
(Lived: 80 years)	2 July 1949	4 March 1954		Also Prime Minister (1950–1956)
[[File:Todor Zhivkov , eerste secretaris Communistische Partij en president van Bulgari, Bestanddeelnr 924-8077 (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Todor Zhivkov
Тодор Живков
1911–1998
(Lived: 86 years)	4 March 1954	10 November 1989		Also Prime Minister (1962–1971), and Chairman of the Council of State (1971–1989)
[[File:Petar Mladenov 1978 (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Petar Mladenov
Петър Младенов
1936–2000
(Lived: 63 years)	10 November 1989	2 February 1990		Also Chairman of the Council of State (1989–1990)

[[Bulgaria|Republic of Bulgaria]] (1990–present)

Main article: List of presidents of Bulgaria (1990–present)

President	Term of office	Duration	Political party	Portrait	Name
(Birth–Death)	Election	Took office	Left office	Chairman (President) of the Republic	Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)}};"	President of the Republic	Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)}};"	Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)}};"	Bulgarian Socialist Party}};"	GERB}};"	Independent}};"	Bulgarian Socialist Party}};"
[[File:Zhelev-1990.jpg	100px]]	Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)	(Jul-Aug) 1990	15 November 1990	22 January 1992		SDS
[[File:Zhelev 1996 (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Zhelyu Zhelev
Желю Желев
1935–2015
(Lived: 79 years)	1992	22 January 1992	22 January 1997	years	SDS
[[File:Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Congress Rome 2006 (48) (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Petar Stoyanov
Петър Стоянов
Born 1952
( years old)	1996	22 January 1997	22 January 2002	years	SDS
[[File:Georgi Parvanov Senate of Poland 01 (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Georgi Parvanov
Георги Първанов
Born 1957
( years old)	2001
2006	22 January 2002	22 January 2012	years	BSP
[[File:BG President Rosen Plevneliev (crop2).JPG	100px]]	Rosen Plevneliev
Росен Плевнелиев
Born 1964
( years old)	2011	22 January 2012	22 January 2017	years	GERB
[[File:Rumen Radev official (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Rumen Radev
Румен Радев
Born 1963
( years old)	2016
2021	22 January 2017	23 January 2026		Independent
(BSP–nominated)
[[File:President Iliyana Yotova (cropped).jpg	100px]]	Iliana Iotova
Илияна Йотова
Born 1964
( years old)	—	23 January 2026	Incumbent		BSP

Timeline

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DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1879 till:31/12/ TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:10 start:1880 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1879

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bar:AlexanderI from: 29/04/1879 till: 07/09/1886 color:Battenberg text:"Alexander I" bar:FerdinandI from: 07/07/1887 till: 03/10/1918 color:S-C-G-K text:"Ferdinand I" bar:BorisIII from: 03/10/1918 till: 28/08/1943 color:S-C-G-K text:"Boris III" bar:SimeonII from: 28/08/1943 till: 15/09/1946 color:S-C-G-K text:"Simeon II" bar:Dimitrov from: 01/01/1946 till: 02/07/1949 color:bcp text:"Georgi Dimitrov (de-facto)" bar:Kolarov from: 15/09/1946 till: 09/12/1947 color:bcp text:"Vasil Kolarov" bar:Neychev from: 09/12/1947 till: 27/05/1950 color:bcp text:"Mincho Neychev" bar:Chervenkov from: 02/07/1949 till: 04/03/1954 color:bcp text:"Valko Chervenkov (de-facto)" bar:Damyanov from: 27/05/1950 till: 27/11/1958 color:bcp text:"Georgi Damyanov" bar:Zhivkov from: 04/03/1954 till: 10/11/1989 color:bcp text:"Todor Zhivkov (de-facto)" bar:Kulishev from: 27/11/1958 till: 30/11/1958 color:bcp from: 20/04/1964 till: 23/04/1964 color:bcp text:"Georgi Kulishev (acting)" bar:Georgiev from: 27/11/1958 till: 30/11/1958 color:bzns from: 20/04/1964 till: 23/04/1964 color:bzns text:"Nikolay Georgiev (acting)" bar:Ganev from: 30/11/1958 till: 20/04/1964 color:bcp text:"Dimitar Ganev" bar:Traykov from: 23/04/1964 till: 07/07/1971 color:bzns text:"Georgi Traykov" bar:Mladenov from: 10/11/1989 till: 03/04/1990 color:bcp from: 03/04/1990 till: 06/07/1990 color:bsp text:"Petar Mladenov" bar:Todorov from: 06/07/1990 till: 17/07/1990 color:bsp text:"Stanko Todorov (acting)" bar:Todorov1 from: 17/07/1990 till: 01/08/1990 color:independent text:"Nikolai Todorov (acting)" bar:Zhelev from: 01/08/1990 till: 22/01/1997 color:sds text:"Zhelyu Zhelev" bar:Stoyanov from: 22/01/1997 till: 22/01/2002 color:sds text:"Petar Stoyanov" bar:Parvanov from: 22/01/2002 till: 22/01/2012 color:bsp text:"Georgi Parvanov" bar:Plevneliev from: 22/01/2012 till: 22/01/2017 color:gerb text:"Rosen Plevneliev" bar:Radev from: 22/01/2017 till: 23/01/2026 color:independent text:"Rumen Radev" bar:Iotova from: 23/01/2026 till: $today color:bsp text:"Iliana Iotova"

Head of state titles

State	Years	Title
Principality of Bulgaria	1879–1908	Prince of Bulgaria
Tsardom of Bulgaria (1908–1946)	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

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