Petya Parvanova (; born 12 July 1960) was the interior minister of Bulgaria for a brief period in 2013. She was the first woman to head the ministry in the country.

Early life and education

Parvanova was born in Sofia on 12 July 1960. She holds a bachelor's degree in

German philology German studies is an academic field that researches, documents and disseminates German language, German literature, literature, and culture in its historic and present forms. Academic departments of German studies therefore often focus on Culture ...

, which she received from

Sofia University Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" () is a public university, public research university in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is the oldest institution of higher education in Bulgaria. Founded on 1 October 1888, the edifice of the university was constr ...

in 1991. She received a master's degree in law from

New Bulgarian University New Bulgarian University (, also known and abbreviated as НБУ, NBU) is a private university based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Its campus is in the western district of the city, known for its proximity to the Vitosha nature park. The university also ...

in 1998.

Career

From 1978 to 1981 Parvanova was an administrator at

Balkantourist Balkantourist () is the oldest existing Bulgarian tour operator, established on 6 January 1948 as a state-owned government monopoly in what was then the People's Republic of Bulgaria. Privatised in 1995, it has continued to exist in the post-19 ...

. From 1982 to 1991 she served as an interpreter at the East German embassy in Sofia. Later she worked as an assistant and translator at various companies. From 1999 to 2001 she served as the head of the international relations and protocol sector at the Prosecutor-General's office. In 2001, Purvanova was named as the deputy director at the same body, and later, she became the director of international cooperation at the interior ministry. She was promoted to the rank of police general. On 12 March 2013, she was appointed interior minister to the

caretaker government A caretaker government, also known as a caretaker regime, is a temporary ''ad hoc'' government that performs some governmental duties and functions in a country until a regular government is elected or formed. Depending on specific practice, it co ...

led by

Marin Raykov Marin Raykov Nikolov ( ; born 17 December 1960) is a Bulgarian people, Bulgarian politician and diplomat who was appointed to serve as a Caretaker government, caretaker Prime Minister of Bulgaria and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria), ministe ...

. She became the first woman interior minister of Bulgaria. Her term ended on 29 May 2013 when Tsvetlin Yovchev was appointed interior minister. For the duration of her service at the Ministry of the Interior, she was awarded many times for high performance service and professionalism with medals and honors – "for valor and merit", first degree in 2007. In 2010 she was awarded with category A – senior commissioner. In March 2016 she was appointed Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers of Republic of Bulgaria. On 9 May 2019, she was awarded the Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parvanova, Petya 1960 births Living people Politicians from Sofia Sofia University alumni Bulgarian translators Women government ministers of Bulgaria Female interior ministers