Prime Minister - Boiko Borissov

Born on June 13, 1959 in Bankya, Greater Sofia. Between 1985 and 1990 worked as an instructor with the Higher Institute for Police Officer Training and Scientific Research with the Interior Ministry. Defended a thesis on "Psychophysical Training of Personnel" and was awarded a doctoral degree. In 1989 left the Interior Ministry and started work as a security guard. In 1991 set up a security company. Between September 1, 2001, and September 19, 2005, was Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry. Elected mayor of Sofia on November 5, 2005. Re-elected for a second term in 2007 as a GERB candidate.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister - Tsvetan Tsvetanov

Born on April 8, 1965 in Sofia.Graduated from the National Sports Academy in Sofia (qualified as teacher of physical education and athletics coach). Holds a post-graduate degree in law from Sofia's University of National and World Economy. Specialized in fighting global terrorism and illicit car trafficking in Spain and the United States.

Received training at the FBI, the Secret Service, and the International Law Enforcement Academy, Rosewell, New Mexico, and Budapest, Hungary. Has joined the Interior Ministry in 1987. From 2001 to 2005, Colonel Tsvetanov was operational assistant to then Chief Secretary Boiko Borissov. Following the mayoral elections in

October 2005, he was appointed Sofia deputy mayor in charge of public order and security. GERB Chairman since December 2006. Elected to Parliament at the July 7, 2009 elections as a GERB candidate. GERB Floor Leader in the 41st National Assembly. Married, with two daughters.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister - Simeon Djankov

Born on July 13, 1970 in Sofia. A graduate of the Lovech, North Central Bulgaria, Foreign Language School and of the University of National and World Economy in Sofia. Holds a PhD in economics from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and has published over 70 articles in academic journals. Ranked among the 150 Most Cited Economists in the world by IDEAS/RePEc.

Chief Economist for Finance and Private Sector in the World Bank Group. Best known as the creator of the Doing Business series. In his 13 years at the World Bank, he has worked on regional trade agreements in North Africa, enterprise restructuring and privatization in transition economies (Georgia), corporate governance in East Asia, and regulatory reforms around the world. A principal author of the World Development Report 2002. Established the think-tank Ideas42, a Harvard University - International Finance Corporation venture, in June 2008.Fluent in English.

Djankov's wife, Caroline Freund, is Senior Economist in the World Bank's International Trade Team, Development Research Group. She is said to have been invited to the economic team of President Barack Obama. The Djankovs have two sons.

Education, Youth and Science Minister - Yordanka Fundukova

Born on April 12, 1962 in Samokov. Graduated in Russian studies from the St Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia. Specialized in business administration and

management of education. Worked as a high-school teacher (1985-1998) and school principal (1998-2005). In December 2005 she was appointed Sofia Deputy

Mayor in charge of education. Tendered her resignation in February 2008 over the failed start of an electronic application system for Sofia's kindergartens, but the resignation was turned down by Mayor Boiko Borissov.She was elected to the new Parliament on the July 5, 2009, as a GERB candidate. Married, with one daughter.

Agriculture and Foods Minister - Miroslav Naidenov

Born on December 14, 1968 in Vratsa.Graduate of the Higher Institute of Zootechnics and Veterinary Medicine in Stara Zagora. Specialized in veterinary medicine at Trakia University, Stara Zagora, and in Berne, Switzerland. Worked as Director of the Vratsa Regional Veterinary Service (2002-2004), Chief Secretary of the National Veterinary Service (July 2005 - October 2006), Director of the Ecoravnovesie

Municipal Enterprise in Sofia. Vice President of the Bulgarian Small Animal Veterinary Association. Elected to the 41st National Assembly on July 5, 2009 as a GERB candidate. Speaks French, Russian and English. Married, with two children.

Environment and Waters Minister - Nona Karadjova

39 years old. Under two consecutive governments, of Kostov [1997-2001] and of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha [2001-2005], served as head of the EU Integration Department with the Environment Ministry, a key figure in the accession talks with the EU on the

Environment chapter. Prevous experience includes enviromental consultancy.

Culture Minister - Vejdi Rashidov

Born on December 14, 1951 in Dimitrovgrad. Studied sculpture under Prof. Dimiter Daskalov at Sofia's National Academy of Art (graduated 1978). Member of the Paris Salon d'Automne and of the European Academy of Arts in Paris (1993), and of the UNESCO World Arts Association. Active member of the Paris-based European Academy of Arts, Sciences and Humanities. Has staged over 45 exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad (Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, Italy,

Belgium, Kuwait, Britain, Switzerland, India, Germany, South Africa, US, Turkey, Japan, Austria, South Korea, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Russia, Armenia, France, South Africa etc.) His first one-man show in Bulgaria came as late as in 1994, after 37 displays abroad.

His works are owned by the Pushkin Museum, Moscow, the Museum Ludwig, Cologne, the national galleries in Warsaw, Ankara and Yerevan, the Mantsu and Korita museums, Tokyo, the Otaru Museum, Japan, the Eckley Foundation, Paris, the Tilsen Museum Canada, all Bulgarian galleries and numerous private collections

worldwide.

Served as member of the Public Council on Culture with President Peter Stoyanov (February-December 1997), municipal councillor in the Sofia Municipal Council (1999-2001), member of the Council on Cultural Development with President Georgi Purvanov (2002). Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (2004).

He was the only ethnic Turk to be elected to the 41st National Assembly as a majoritarian candidate of GERB, defeating the candidate of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms in the Kurdjali Constituency.Speaks Turkish and German.Married, with one child.

Justice Minister - Margarita Popova

Born on May 15, 1956 in Sofia. Graduated from the German Language School in Pazardjik and in Bulgarian Studies and Law from the St Kliment Ohridski

University of Sofia. Joined the prosecuting magistracy in 1990. Worked at the Pirdop

and Svoge regional prosecution offices. Headed the Sofia District Prosecution Office, 1995-2004. Full-time lecturer at the National Institute of Justice. In June 2006 Prosecutor General Boris Velchev asked her to join his team, on September 21, 2006 she became his spokeswoman, and in September 2008 she headed a new unit of the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office specialized in investigating abuse of EU funds. Fluent in German. Married, with one son and one daughter.

Defence Minister - Nikolai Mladenov

Born on May 5, 1972 in Sofia. BA and MA in International Relations from Sofia's University of National and World Economy. While he has never served in the army, he holds an MA in War Studies from King's College London (military strategy, weapons of mass destruction, military history). In 2006 he left for Iraq at the request of the National Democratic Institute of the US to become an advisor to the chair of the parliamentary security committee.

He has worked as a Programme Director of the Open Society Foundation-Sofia (1997-1998) and a Human Development Officer at the World Bank Office in Sofia (1998-1999). Founded and directed the non-governmental European Institute in Sofia (1999-2001). His political career started with the Union of Democratic Forces where he was spokesperson and deputy chairman between 2002 and 2005. Left the party over its failure at the 2005 general elextions.MP in the 39th National Assembly. Has served on the permanent delegation of the Bulgarian Parliament to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

At the first elections of Bulgarian members of the European Parliament (May 20, 2007), he was elected as a candidate of GERB.

Speaks English, Russian, French and Hebrew. Single.

Labour and Social Policy Minister - Totyu Mladenov

Born on June 19, 1964 in Vratsa. Graduated in Water Supply and Sewerage from Sofia's High Instutute of Architecture and Construction. Specialized in the US, France, Belgium in the fields of social security, training and retraining. Confederate

Secretary of the Podkrepa Labour Confederation on information and social policy, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the National Employment Agency, Executive Director of the General Labour Inspectorate with the Labour and Social Policy Ministry. Elected Mayor of Vratsa as a GERB candidate at the local elections on November 4 2007.

Health Minister - Bojidar Mihailov Nanev

Born on January 19, 1963 in Dimitrovgrad. Specialized in general, pediatric and thoracic surgery. Works in Varna's St Marina University Hospital. Part-time lecturer in pediatric surgery at Varna's Medical University. Since 2008 has chaired the local chapter of the Bulgarian Medical Association, since January 10, 2009, has been President of the Bulgarian Medical Association.

Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister - Traicho Traikov

Born on April 19, 1970. Managerial agent of EVN Bulgaria Toplofikatsiya EAD and EVN Bulgaria Elektrorazpredelnie AD

Regional Development Minister - Rossen Plevneliev

Born on May 14, 1964 in Gotse Delchev. Graduated from Sofia's Higher Institute of Mathematics and Engineering.In 1990 set up a construction company. Between 1991 and 1998 worked in Germany as co-owner of a subcontracting company for the German Lindner company. Since 1998, has been manager of Lindner Bulgaria EOOD. Serves on the Managing Board of the Confederation of the Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria, manager of Business Park Sofia.

Transport, Information Technologies and Communications Minister

- Alexander Tsvetkov

Born on August 26, 1967 in Pleven. Holds MA in International Economic Relations from the University of National and World Economy and Transport Construction from the Higher Institute of Aerchitecture and Construction in Sofia. Has served as deputy head of a department with the General Road Administration, head of a department with the Road Executive Agency, director of the Transport Infrastructure Directorate with Sofia Municipality. Since 2008, Sofia deputy mayor in charge of transport.

Foreign Affairs Minister - Rumiana Jeleva

Born on April 18, 1969 in Nova Zagora.

Holds a degree in pedagogy and social sciences from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia and a PhD in social sciences from the Otto-von-Guericke University in GermanyBetween 1995 and 2003 she served on the management of several investment and privatization funds, and private businesses. Has headed the National Centre for New Social Practices (since 2004), worked as research associate with the Institute of Social Studies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (since 2005). Has been visiting professor in European studies at Magdeburg University, Germany.She was elected to the European Parliament on the GERB ticket at the first elections of Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament (May 20, 2007). Re-elected MEP in the June 2009 elections. Speaks Russian, English and German.

Married to Krassimir Zhelev, Director of a bank branch in Bourgas.

Physical Education and Sports Minister - Svilen Neikov

Born on December 14, 1964 in Varna. Graduated from Sofia's National Sports Academy in 1990. Senior Assistant Professor at the National Sports Academy. Multiple rowing national and Balkan champion, student world champion in 1989, named best Bulgarian trainer in 2008.

Minister without portfolio - Bozhidar Dimitrov

Born on December 3, 1945 in Sozopol.Qualified as ship engine operator at a Bourgas vocational school. Worked as a refrigerator mechanic for the Ocean Fisheries Company. National champion in diving (1962). Graduated in History from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia (1975). Earned a Doctor of History degree (1986). Senior Research Associate 2nd Class (since 1987). Specialized in Greek

and Latin paleography in Paris and at the Vatican Secret Archives (1975-1978). Intelligence officer at the First Main Department of State Security (1973-1980).Appointed curator at the National Museum of History, 1978. Director of the National Museum of History (1994-1998 and since December 2001).Has written some 30 monographs and over 250 studies on Bulgaria's Middle Ages, Ottoman period and modern history. Hosts the "Bulgarian Memory" show on Bulgarian National Television Channel 1 (since 2002).

Member of the Supreme Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) (2002-2005). Municipal Counillor in Sofia (2003-2005), floor leader of the Socialist Group. Left BSP in June 2009.Elected to the 41st National Assembly on July 5, 2009 as a majoritarian candidate of GERB in the Bourgas Constituency.Married, with one daughter.

Source: BTA