Nikolai Denkov
Nikolai Denkov | |
|---|---|
Николай Денков | |
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
| In office 6 June 2023 – 9 April 2024 | |
| President | Rumen Radev |
| Deputy | Mariya Gabriel |
| Preceded by | Galab Donev |
| Succeeded by | Dimitar Glavchev |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2024 | |
| Constituency | 30th MMC – Shumen (2024-2024) 2nd MMC - Burgas (2024-present) |
| In office 19 October 2022 – 6 June 2023 | |
| Constituency | 30th MMC – Shumen |
| Minister of Education and Science | |
| In office 12 May 2021 – 2 August 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Krasimir Valchev |
| Succeeded by | Sasho Penov |
| In office 27 January 2017 – 4 May 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Ognyan Gerdzhikov |
| Preceded by | Meglena Kuneva |
| Succeeded by | Krasimir Valchev |
| Deputy Minister of Education and Science | |
| In office 12 August 2014 – 5 April 2016 | |
| Prime Minister | Boyko Borisov |
| Minister | Todor Tanev Meglena Kuneva |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nikolai Denkov Denkov 3 September 1962 Stara Zagora,PR Bulgaria |
| Political party | We Continue the Change(since 2022) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent(until 2022) |
| Education | Sofia University |
| Occupation |
|
Nikolai Denkov Denkov(Bulgarian:Николай Денков Денков,born 3 September 1962) is a Bulgarian politician who served asPrime Minister of Bulgariafrom 2023 to 2024.[1]A member of thePPparty, he previously served as a Member of theNational Assemblyfrom 2022 to 2023 and asMinister of Education and Sciencein 2017 and from 2021 to 2022. Denkov is a physicist, physical chemist and chemist. He is a member of theBulgarian Academy of Sciencesand was a lecturer at theUniversity of Sofia.
Early life[edit]
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Nikolai was born on 3 September 1962, inStara Zagora,Bulgaria.[citation needed]After elementary school, he moved to the Bulgarian capitalSofia,where he graduated from the National Gymnasium for Science and Mathematics in 1980.[citation needed]This was followed by a master's degree in chemistry and pharmacy at theSt. Kliment-Ohridski University in Sofia,which he completed in 1987.[citation needed]In 1993, he defended hisdissertationand obtained his doctorate.[citation needed]
For the early part of his career, Denkov worked as visiting researcher inJRDC(Japan), senior researcher inRhone-PoulencR&D (France), lead scientist inUnileverR&D (USA), and guest professor in France (ESPCI-ParisandUniv. Lille).[citation needed]
Academic career[edit]
Denkov has been an adjunct lecturer since 1997 and professor of physical chemistry at the University of Sofia since 2008. Between 2008 and 2015 he was head of the faculty for technical chemistry and director of the master's course Disperse Systems in Chemical Technologies. He has been a doctor of chemistry since 2007. He specialized in Japan and atUppsala Universityin Sweden and worked as a senior scientist in the research institutes of private companies such asUnilever(USA) andRhône-Poulenc(France).[citation needed][2][3]
In 2010 he was awarded the highest national award "Pythagoras" for scientific achievements by theBulgarian Ministry of Education and Science.In 2013 he received the Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon from the University of Sofia.[2]
Between 2012 and 2013, Denkov was a member of various working groups in the Ministry of Education and Science and in the Council of Ministers. He actively participated in the development of the concept of the Operational ProgramScience and Education for Smart Growthand in the discussions for the Partnership Agreement for 2013–2020 between the Republic of Bulgaria and theEuropean Commission.[2][3]
Civil service career[edit]
From August 2014 to April 2016, Denkov was Deputy Minister of Education and Science in theBorisov II government,responsible for higher education and the European Structural Funds, including the implementation of the Operational ProgramScience and Education for Smart Growth.From 27 January 2017, to 4 May 2017, he was Interim Minister for Education and Science inGerdzhikov's interim government.[2]
In 2019, Denkov was awarded the Solvay Prize of the European Colloid and Interface Society (ECIS) for his research achievements and he was elected a full member of theAcademia Europaea.
Political career[edit]
Education minister (2021–2022)[edit]
Between 12 May 2021, and 13 December 2021, he was again interim minister for education and science in the acting governments ofYanev IandYanev IIduring theCOVID-19 pandemic.When after thegeneral election in November 2021thatWe Continue the Change(PP) had the largest congressional faction was and could form a coalition capable of governing, Denkov became the education minister in theCabinetofKiril Petkov.[2][3][4]
Prime Minister of Bulgaria (2023–2024)[edit]
Following the outcome of theBulgarian parliamentary electionsheld in April 2023, on 22 May Denkov was projected to becomePrime Minister of Bulgariaas part of a power-sharing agreement between the two most-voted coalitions,GERB—SDSandPP–DB.[5][6][7]The deal implied that Denkov would lead the new government for the following nine months, before switching positions withMariya Gabriel.[6][7][8]
Following extensive talks between the two coalitions involved, as well as theMovement for Rights and Freedoms,[9][10]an official agreement on the composition of theDenkov-Gabriel cabinetwas reached on 2 June.[9]On 6 June, the49th National Assembly of Bulgariavoted in Denkov's new government, with 132 votes in favor and 69 against.[1][8][9][11]The new government will focus on fighting Russian influence in Bulgaria's security sector and obtaining membership in theSchengen Areaand theeurozone.A political crisis prompted Bulgaria to postpone adopting theeurountil 2025. In December 2022, Austrian and Dutch opposition blocked Bulgaria and Romania from becoming members of the Schengen Area.[12]
In September 2023, Denkov calledAzerbaijana "valuable partner" of Bulgaria.[13]Denkov condemnedHamas' actions during the2023 Israel–Hamas warand expressed his support toIsrael.[14]
On 30 December 2023, it became clear that Denkov's cabinet had secured membership for Bulgaria in theSchengen Areaby air and sea.[15]Although further negotiations in 2024 would be required to lift border controls by land,[15]this was a major diplomatic success for the Denkov-Gabriel cabinet, which aimed for а positive decision regarding Schengen Area membership by the end of 2023 as part of the five government priorities stated in July of the same year.[16]
Denkov resigned on 6 March 2024 as part of the power-sharing agreement with Gabriel.[17]However, on 25 March, Gabriel withdrew her nomination for prime minister after announcing that negotiations on forming a new government with PP-DB had failed, and said that new elections would be held.[18]
References[edit]
- ^ab"България има ново правителство с премиер Николай Денков - По света и у нас - БНТ Новини".bntnews.bg(in Bulgarian). 6 June 2023.Retrieved6 June2023.
- ^abcde"Министър".
- ^abc"Department of Chemical Engineering - Prof. Nikolai D. Denkov, Ph.D., D.Sc".
- ^"Избират кабинета" Петков ", новите министри поемат властта".
- ^"ГЕРБ и ПП-ДБ правят правителство, Денков и Габриел ще са премиери за по 9 месеца (видео)".Mediapool.bg(in Bulgarian). 22 May 2023.Retrieved24 May2023.
- ^abDunai, Marton (23 May 2023)."Bulgaria breaks political deadlock with proposed power-sharing deal".Financial Times.Retrieved24 May2023.
- ^ab"Bulgaria agrees government with rotating PMs to tackle corruption".POLITICO.22 May 2023.Retrieved24 May2023.
- ^ab"Nikolai Denkov, nuevo primer ministro de Bulgaria".RTVE(in Spanish). 6 June 2023.Retrieved7 June2023.
- ^abc"Bulgaria Finally has a Regular Government (CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS)".Novinite.Retrieved6 June2023.
- ^"Двучасов разговор между ПП-ДБ, ГЕРБ-СДС и ДПС, сред тях Кирил Петков и Делян Пеевски)".24chasa.bg(in Bulgarian).Retrieved2 June2023.
- ^"Bulgaria's parliament elects new government led by PM Denkov".Reuters.6 June 2023.Retrieved7 June2023.
- ^"Bulgarian Parliament Approves Coalition Government After Five Elections In Two Years".Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 6 June 2023.
- ^"Prime Minister Denkov: Azerbaijan is our valuable partner".3E News.13 September 2023.
- ^"Bulgaria condemns Hamas terrorist attack on Israel".The Sofia Globe. 7 October 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 7 October 2023.
- ^ab"Press corner".European Commission - European Commission.Retrieved31 December2023.
- ^Хаджийски, Васил (26 July 2023)."Управляващите приеха програма с пет основни цели до края на мандата на Мария Габриел".Dnevnik(in Bulgarian).Retrieved31 December2023.
- ^"Bulgaria's prime minister resigns as planned, part of a power-sharing agreement".Associated Press.6 March 2024.Retrieved6 March2024.
- ^"Bulgaria's prime minister-designate withdraws after talks between political coalitions fail".Associated Press.18 March 2024.Retrieved25 March2024.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Members of Academia Europaea
- Members of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
- Academic staff of Sofia University
- 20th-century chemists
- 21st-century chemists
- 20th-century Bulgarian physicists
- 21st-century Bulgarian physicists
- 21st-century Bulgarian politicians
- Government ministers of Bulgaria
- Education ministers
- Prime ministers of Bulgaria