Atanas Zafirov

Atanas Zafirov is a seasoned Bulgarian politician with extensive parliamentary and executive experience. Since January 2025, he has served as Deputy Prime Minister without portfolio in the government of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, and in February 2025, he was elected as the Leader of the BSP–United Left (BSP–OL) coalition. Born in Burgas in 1971, Mr. Zafirov holds a Master’s degree in Bulgarian Language and History from Veliko Tarnovo University, as well as additional Master’s degrees in Finance and National Security from Veliko Tarnovo University and the “G. S. Rakovski” Military Academy, respectively. He has also completed specialised political and leadership programmes at institutions including New Bulgarian University, the Bulgarian School of Politics, and the Moscow School of Political Studies. Zafirov has been elected to the Bulgarian National Assembly nine times, from the 42nd to the 51st legislatures. He has held key roles in various parliamentary committees, serving as Chair of the Defence Committee (46th and 47th Parliaments) and Rotating Chair of the Committee for Oversight of the Security Services (48th Parliament). He has also served as Deputy Chair of the parliamentary group. He has represented Bulgaria in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly for three terms and served as Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Armenia, for which he was awarded the Medal of Gratitude by the President of Armenia. Atanas Zafirov is recognised for his strategic leadership, dedication to public service, and consistent efforts to strengthen left-wing political platforms and national security policy in Bulgaria.