Kristian Vigenin is a Bulgarian politician born on June 12, 1975, in Sofia, with extensive experience in both European and national politics. He studied International Relations and Macroeconomics at the University of National and World Economy and later pursued legal studies at Sofia University "Kliment Ohridski." His political career began in 1994 when he co-founded the Bulgarian Socialist Youth, and he went on to become a member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which is affiliated with the Party of European Socialists. Since July 2024, he has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament in its 10th term, representing the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats — marking his return to European politics after previously serving as an MEP from 2007 to 2013.
In the current parliamentary term, Vigenin sits on several key committees, including the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI), the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE), the Committee on Public Health (SANT), and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO). Beyond his parliamentary work, he served as Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs from May 2013 to August 2014, and during the first half of 2014 also chaired the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation. He has held numerous leadership roles within the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, including Vice President from 2018 to 2022. He currently serves as Head of the Delegation of Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament.