Atanas Zafirov

Atanas Zafirov Zafirov () is a Bulgarian politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria since 2025. A member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which he currently leads, he previously served as Member of the National Assembly from 2013 to 2017 and from 2021 to 2025.

Early life and education

He was born on 29 September 1971 in Burgas.

Zafirov attended Veliko Tarnovo University, graduating with a degree in "Bulgarian History and Language" in 1994. He received a second degree in "Finance" from the university in 2007. In 2019, Zafirov received a degree from the Georgi Rakovski Military Academy in national security.

Political career

According to Zafirov's personal recollections, he had been interested in politics around the age of 14, when he joined the youth movement of the Bulgarian Communist Party, DMKS, in 1985. In 1990, Zafirov officially became a member of the BSP and participated as an activist in the electoral campaigns of the decade.

In 2001, he served as a political advisor to the MP-candidate for Burgas from the BSP, Penka Kentardzhieva. He also participated in and was nominated for local elections the civic movement "Sarafovo 21st-century", meant to represent a newly built neighborhood in Burgas. Ultimately, he did not end up contesting the 2003 Local Elections, however he was later appointed to serve in the Burgas Municipal Administration.

He was nominated as an MP candidate from Burgas Province by the BSP in the 2005 and 2009 national elections, as well as a candidate for the Burgas City Council in the 2007 Local Elections, however did not get elected.

In 2011, he was elected as the Oblast Coordinator of the BSP.

Member of the National Assembly

In 2013, Zafirov was elected as an MP for the first time. He briefly retired from parliamentary activity following the 2017 Bulgarian parliamentary election, but was elected to serve in parliament once again in 2021.

In his parliamentary activity, Zafirov participated a number of commissions, most notably the Defense Commission in the 47th National Assembly. He further played an important role within the Armenian-Bulgarian friendship committee, receiving a medal from Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan for his contribution to Armenian-Bulgarian relations in 2022.

Internally, between 2021 and 2023, Zafirov was the deputy leader of the BSP parliamentary group.

He continued to be active within the party structures, being a member of both the National Council and the Executive Council of the BSP. On In these roles, Zafirov generally expressed support for the leadership of Korneliya Ninova.

BSP Chairman

Acting Chairman

Following the poor results of the June 2024 Bulgarian parliamentary election, BSP chair Korneliya Ninova announced her intention to resign. In her announcement, Ninova indicated that an acting chairman would be chosen from the ranks of her deputies by the National Council until a new Chairperson was elected.

Zafirov was elected as acting chairman of the BSP on 15 June 2024, with the support of 103 votes. Zafirov's election led to speculation about the possibility of BSP's support for a GERB-led government, as he had previously indicated openness to the idea.

In media statements following his selection, Zafirov denied those rumours, stating that the BSP would not support a government including GERB or the DPS. Further, he criticised the actions of Korneliya Ninova, who he accused of attempting to sabotage the new leadership and of spreading lies about the nature of the new leadership. Additionally, Zafirov promised major reforms within the party, including the restoration of previously expelled members, cooperation with leftist projects formed by dissident BSP members and a renewal of relations with President Rumen Radev.

Zafirov delivered the opening remarks for the BSP Parliamentary Group in the 50th National Assembly, in which he emphasised the BSP's ability to negotiate with all other political forces.

He also met with various internal party platforms in order to discuss the restoration of party unity. In these meetings, Zafirov promised to convene a National Council meeting in order to discuss the restoration of former BSP members.

Another key element of Zafirov's leadership program was enabling the consolidation of the Bulgarian left, in this goal he cited the example of the French New Popular Front.

On 27 July, after a few weeks of negotiations and one day prior to the traditional BSP rally on Buzludzha, it was announced an agreement had been reached between the BSP and a number of other leftist formations to contest future elections together. Zafirov hailed the signing of this joint agreement as a major victory for Bulgarian leftists.

During the parties traditional rally at Buzludzha, Zafirov delivered a speech emphasizing the need for intra-party unity and the consolidation of leftist voters. He further argued that reforms were needed within the party in order to achieve electoral success, and accused certain forces within the party of attempting to sabotage the new course.

On 10 August, Zafirov announced that the parties National Council had ratified the idea of contesting new parliamentary elections in a broad left-wing coalition. Additionally, he criticised the statements of Ninova and her allies within the party for attempting to undermine such a coalition.

In media statements following the confirmation of the formation of a broad left-wing coalition, Zafirov made clear that former chairwoman Ninova would not be nominated as a candidate.

On 5 September, following negotiations about a joint-program, the composition and program of the coalition, the BSP - United Left was officially unveiled.

Prior to the registration of the coalition, court challenges were launched by Ninova and her allies claiming that Zafirov was not the legal representative of BSP, and hence could not register BSP for the October elections. In response to this move, Zafirov motioned for the expulsion of Ninova and her allies on the National Council from the party, which passed. Commenting her expulsion, he argued that the decision sent a signal about the new leaderships resolve to undertake important changes within the party.

On 9 September, the High Arbitration Court officially ruled that Zafirov, as acting Chairman, was the sole legal representative of the BSP.

On 10 September, Zafirov registered the coalition for the elections, commenting that he expected a good result.

On 20 September, the new left-wing coalition announced its list leaders, with Zafirov being selected to lead the list for the 25th MMC-Sofia. In the days following the publication of lists, Zafirov denied allegations that figures influenced by Delyan Peevski had been selected within the lists or that the lists had been imposed upon local party structures.

On 29 October, commenting on the provisional final results which gave BSP - United Left around 7.8%, Zafirov praised the campaign of the coalition and underlined its ability to stop the electoral decline of the left in Bulgaria, highlighting that the coalition received 33,000 more votes compared to the previous election in June. Discussing the possibility of BSP's potential participation in any governing majority, he stated that BSP's main priority during negotiations was stable governance, although he further highlighted that traditionally right-wing parties already had a governing majority.

Speaking prior to the convocation of the new National Assembly, Zafirov confirmed that the BSP - United Left group would nominate their own candidate for the speakership position. While reiterating that BSP were willing to negotiate with all parties in parliament, he made clear that he upheld the previous congress decision not to govern with either GERB or DPS.

Zafirov, as in the prior National Assembly, delivered the coalitions opening remarks in the opening session of the 51st National Assembly, wherein he focused on the need for parties to unite in order to tackle the challenges facing Bulgaria and underlined the BSP's pro-European positions, while emphasising the need to retain Bulgaria's sovereignty.

On the 13th of November, Zafirov participated in talks between the BSP and GERB, however denied that the talks concerned government formation and were instead focused on major policy issues facing the new parliament. He further participated in talks with PP-DB, during which he re-iterated BSP's previous refusal to sign a "cordon sanitaire" against DPS-Peevski, however indicated an openness to cooperate on other policy topics.

In a TV interview on the 16th of November, Zafirov confirmed that he was considering running for Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party in order to preserve the cooperation which had been established between leftist parties.

Commenting the inability of the National Assembly to elect a speaker, he proposed that all parliamentary groups present new nominations for speaker in order to find a consensus. Ultimately, the deadlock was resolved after MPs from the BSP-United Left parliamentary group signed the "cordon sanitaire" against Delyan Peevski, leading to the election of Nataliya Kiselova on the 6th of December.

On December 11th, following consultations with the President, Zafirov confirmed that the BSP would participate in talks with GERB. He further elaborated that the BSP aimed to participate in the formation of an "above-partisan", "national" government with a clear program.

Zafirov was selected as a member of the negotiation team meant to lead talks with GERB.

Commenting the issue surrounding previous BSP Congress decisions about not supporting a government formed with a GERB mandate, Zafirov stated that the format of the government would insure that the cabinet does not have a clearly political nature.

With negotiations between GERB and BSP advancing throughout early January, Zafirov in a meeting with mayors from the BSP stated that he believed that a regular government was essential for Bulgaria's prosperity.

On the 12th of January, the National Council of the BSP voted to approve the parties participation in a coalition government with GERB and ITN, with Zafirov being nominated for the position of Deputy Prime Minister without portfolio. On the 15th of January, Zafirov confirmed that a coalition government led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, with external support from DPS-Dogan had been formed. On the 16th of January, Zafirov was sworn-in as part of the Zhelyazkov Government. In this role, Zafirov was tasked with coordinating the work of the BSP ministers and oversaw the governments relationship with certain government agencies, including the agencies on nuclear energy, child protection, refugees and state archive. At a press conference in early February, Zafirov defended the parties choice to enter government by claiming that key BSP priorities had been included in the government's agenda, as well as the need for stability. He further characterised the government as being based on mutual compromises, and emphasised that the BSP would leave the government if their core principles were negated.

Zafirov was one of the candidates registered for the BSP leadership election. Opening his campaign in the BSP headquarters, Zafirov stated that he wished to modernise the party, restore a sense of collective leadership and increase support for local party structures. As his main accomplishments as acting leader, Zafirov noted the formation of a united left-wing coalition for the preceding election, as well as the parties entrance into government. As part of the National Council, Zafirov supported the amendment to the parties rule which returned the right to elect the chairperson of the party to the Congress, rather than directly. An amendment that was subsequently approved by the Congress on the 15th of February.

Speaking at the Congress, Zafirov criticised decisions made by previous Chairwoman, Korneliya Ninova, specifically in terms of aligning with "non-systemic" protest parties, creditting these decisions with contributing to a loss of support by the BSP. He further stated his belief that continued participation in government, as well as measures to increase internal democracy would act to restore faith in the party among the electorate. Zafirov was elected as the new Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party by the Congress, beating organisational secretary and minister of social affairs, Borislav Gutsanov, in the second round. In his victory speech, he promised to restore collective leadership within the party and respect internal democracy.

Chairman of the BSP & Deputy Prime Minister

As Deputy Prime Minister, Zafirov defended the budget presented by the Zhelyazkov Government, claiming that it defended social rights and insured economic growth. He further praised the work of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelayzkov, who he qualified as professional. However, the BSP insisted on the preservation of planned pension increases according to the "Swiss rule", something which GERB opposed. Ultimately, after a conversation between Zafirov and Borisov it was agreed that a recalculation of pensions within the given budgetary frame would be conducted by the National Insurance Institute. In the end, the two parties agreed to a 5% pension increase for 2025, which was lower compared to the estimate according to the "Swiss rule".

On the 9th of March, 2025, Zafirov unveiled his deputies within the party before the new composition of the National Council: Kaloyan Pargov, Ivan Takov, Ivan Ivanov and Ivan Peshev.

Following the confirmation that Velichie were set to enter the National Assembly following a court-ordered recalculation of the results, Zafirov confirmed that the BSP would continue to support the Zhelyazkov Government, even if it meant maintaining an unstable majority.

Speaking before the National Conference on the Prevention of Drug Abuse by Minors, Zafirov expressed the view that vapes should be banned in Bulgaria.

Commenting on the dissolution of the MECh parliamentary group and the subsequent reaction from MECh, Zafirov defended the actions of Kiselova and categorised the statements made by MECh leader, Radostin Vasilev, as inappropriate.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zafirov, Atanas
21st-century Bulgarian politicians
Bulgarian Socialist Party
Bulgarian Socialist Party politicians
Members of the National Assembly (Bulgaria)
People from Burgas
1971 births
Living people