Philip Dimitrov
Date of Birth: 31.03.1955
Country: Bulgaria |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political Activism
- Premier and SDS Leader
- Diplomatic Service and Return to Politics
- Post-SDS and International Role
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Filip Dimitrov graduated high school in 1973 with a specialization in English language. He went on to study law at Sofia University, completing his degree in 1977. Dimitrov then pursued further studies in individual and group psychotherapy, focusing on the psychodynamic approach.
Political Activism
In 1977, Dimitrov began his career as a lawyer. In 1990, he joined the nascent Green Party, which later became part of the broader Union of Democratic Forces (SDS). By August of that year, he had risen to the position of deputy chairman of the SDS.
Premier and SDS Leader
Following the victory of the SDS in the 1991 elections, Dimitrov became Bulgaria's Prime Minister at the head of a minority government. However, the government lost the support of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) and resigned just one year later. After the SDS's defeat in the 1994 elections, Dimitrov stepped down as its leader.
Diplomatic Service and Return to Politics
After the SDS regained power, Dimitrov served as Bulgaria's representative to the United Nations in New York (1997-1998) and as the country's ambassador to the United States (1998-2001). Upon President Georgi Parvanov's election in 2001, Dimitrov resigned his diplomatic post and returned to active involvement in the SDS.
Post-SDS and International Role
In 2004, the SDS underwent a split, and Dimitrov remained loyal to its leader, Nadezhda Mihailova. In 2010, he was appointed head of the European Commission's representation office in Georgia.