Zhelyu Zhelev
Encyclopedia
Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev (born March 3, 1935) is a Bulgaria
n politician and former dissident
who was the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria, he is elected for his first mandate by the Parliament for the period 1990 to 1992, in January 1992 general elections are held when he is reelected for his second mandate till 1997.
. He graduated philosophy
from the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
in 1958, later he earned a Ph.D.
(1974).
, but was expelled from it for political reasons in 1965, he was also expelled from Sofia
the following year and was unemployed for six years since all employment in Bulgaria was state regulated.
In 1982 he published his controversial work The Fascism . Three weeks after publication in 1982, the book was forbidden and removed from bookstores and libraries as it pointed out similarities between the fascist dictatorship and the socialist regime.
(Bulgarian: СДС, SDS) party.
on August 1, 1990.
.
and Honorary Chair of the Liberal International
and in 1997 went on to establish and preside over a foundation named after him. Zhelev was the initiator and president of the Balkan Political Club, a union of former political leaders from Southeast Europe
.
(ABA
). The World Justice Project
works to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen the Rule of Law
for the development of communities of opportunity and equity.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n politician and former dissident
Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
who was the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria, he is elected for his first mandate by the Parliament for the period 1990 to 1992, in January 1992 general elections are held when he is reelected for his second mandate till 1997.
Biography
Zhelyu Zhelev was born in March 3, 1935 in Veselinovo village, ShumenShumen Province
-Religion:Religious adherence in the province according to 2001 census:-Transportation:Shumen lies on the main route between Varna and Sofia and is served by numerous trains and buses serving the city. The city is also very well connected with Istanbul which serves the large Turkish community in...
. He graduated philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
from the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
in 1958, later he earned a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(1974).
Dissident
He was member of the Bulgarian Communist PartyBulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
, but was expelled from it for political reasons in 1965, he was also expelled from Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
the following year and was unemployed for six years since all employment in Bulgaria was state regulated.
In 1982 he published his controversial work The Fascism . Three weeks after publication in 1982, the book was forbidden and removed from bookstores and libraries as it pointed out similarities between the fascist dictatorship and the socialist regime.
SDS
Just before the changes, in 1988 he founded Ruse Committee and in 1989 became a founding member and chairman of the Club for Support of Openness and Reform (a time when many such democratic clubs were formed), which helped him to the position of Chairman of the Coordinating Council of the Union of Democratic ForcesUnion of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)
The Union of Democratic Forces is a political party in Bulgaria, founded in 1989 as a union of several political organizations in opposition to the communist government. In February 1997 the Union was transformed into a single unified party with the same name...
(Bulgarian: СДС, SDS) party.
MP and a President
He was elected MP in the 7th Grand National Assembly (July 1990), the Assembly had its main goal working a new democratic Constitution of Bulgaria. He was elected by the Assembly for a President of the Republic of BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
on August 1, 1990.
Second presidential mandate
In January 1992 general presidential elections were held and he became the first democratically elected on general elections Bulgarian President, serving his second full five-year term until January 1997.Presidential elections 1996
He also was a candidate for a president on the next general elections in 1996 but was defeated by the new UDF candidate Petar StoyanovPetar Stoyanov
Petar Stefanov Stoyanov is a former President of Bulgaria from 1997 until 2002. He was elected as a candidate of the Union of Democratic Forces...
.
Later political career
After the 1996 election defeat and after the end of his presidency in 1997 Zhelev still remained in politics, but on a much smaller scale. He became Honorary Chair of the Liberal Democratic UnionLiberal Democratic Union
The Liberal Democratic Union is a political party in Albania. In the 2001 elections it was part of the Union for Victory coalition which received 37.1% of the vote and 46 members of parliament...
and Honorary Chair of the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and in 1997 went on to establish and preside over a foundation named after him. Zhelev was the initiator and president of the Balkan Political Club, a union of former political leaders from Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe is a relatively recent political designation for the states of the Balkans. Writers such as Maria Todorova and Vesna Goldsworthy have suggested the use of the term Southeastern Europe to replace the word Balkans for the region, to minimize potential...
.
Author
Zhelev has written a number of books and publications, the most notable one being his controversial 1982 work The Fascism.World Justice Project
Zhelyu Zhelev serves as an Honorary Co-Chair for the World Justice ProjectWorld Justice Project
-Mainstreaming:The World Justice Project holds action-oriented meetings with leaders from a range of fields to mainstream rule of law advancement and make strengthening the rule of law as fundamental to the thinking and work of all professionals as it is to lawyers...
(ABA
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
). The World Justice Project
World Justice Project
-Mainstreaming:The World Justice Project holds action-oriented meetings with leaders from a range of fields to mainstream rule of law advancement and make strengthening the rule of law as fundamental to the thinking and work of all professionals as it is to lawyers...
works to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen the Rule of Law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
for the development of communities of opportunity and equity.