1. Early Life and Education
2. Professional Career
3. Political Appointments:
4. Minister of Foreign Affairs
5. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

Ekaterina Zaharievawas born in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, and attended the Bertolt Brecht Language Gymnasium, where she excelled in German. She continued her education at Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, earning a Master of Law degree.

Professional Career

Legal Profession:

Before entering politics, Zaharieva worked as an attorney (2001-2003) and a legal advisor (2003). In 2007, she became the Director of Legislative, Territorial Arrangement and Projects, and State Property at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.

Political Appointments:

In August 2009, Zaharieva was appointed Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, responsible for legislation, spatial planning, projects, state property, housing policy, concessions, regional development, state-owned companies, and public enterprises.

On January 23, 2012, she was appointed Chief Secretary to the President of Bulgaria. From 2013 to 2014, she held various ministerial positions under Prime Ministers Marin Raykov, Boyko Borisov, and Georgi Bliznashki, including Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Minister of Regional Development, and Minister of Investment Design.

From December 2015 to January 2017, Zaharieva served as Minister of Justice.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

On May 4, 2017, Zaharieva was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the coalition government formed by GERB and United Patriots.

During her tenure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Zaharieva's leadership made headlines in September 2019 when it urged Russia to refrain from supporting a "questionable historical thesis" that the Soviet Union's war against Nazi Germany was a liberation of Europe.

Personal Life

Since 2006, Zaharieva has been married to architect Angel Zahariev. She is fluent in English and German.

Politics