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Rumen RadevPresident of Bulgaria, elected on November 13, 2016.
Date of Birth: 18.06.1963
Country:  Bulgaria |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Rumen Radev was born on June 18, 1963, in Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria. He graduated with a gold medal from a mathematics-oriented school in Haskovo in 1982. In 1987, he graduated as top of his class from the Georgi Benkovski Air Force University in Bulgaria. He continued his education in 1992 at the Squadron Officer School in Maxwell, United States. From 1994 to 1996, he attended the Rakovski Defence and Staff College, where he was again the top graduate. Radev earned a doctorate in military sciences, specializing in the development of tactical training for aircrews and air combat simulation.
Military Career
Radev began his military career in 1987 as a junior pilot in the 15th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Ravnets. He rose through the ranks, becoming a squadron commander in 1996. From 2000 to 2002, he served as chief of staff of the Third Fighter Air Base in Graf Ignatievo. He held various other leadership positions, including deputy commander of the Bulgarian Air Force. In 2014, he was appointed to the post of commander of the Bulgarian Air Force.
Political Career
In August 2016, Radev was nominated by the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV) as their presidential candidate in the upcoming elections. The Bulgarian Socialist Party member Iliyana Yotova was chosen as his running mate. However, ABV later withdrew its support for Radev's presidential bid.
In the first round of the presidential election held on November 6, 2016, Radev received 25.44% of the votes. He advanced to the second round, where he faced the candidate from the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, Tsetska Tsacheva. On November 13, 2016, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov congratulated Radev on his victory in the presidential election.
Awards and Recognitions
Radev has received numerous medals and awards, including the Third Degree Order "For Faithful Service Under the Flag," and the Second Degree Honorary Badge "St. George" from the Ministry of Defense.
