Stefan Sofiyanski
Encyclopedia
Stefan Antonov Sofiyanski (born November 7, 1951 in Sofia
) has been a leading member of the Union of Democratic Forces
in Bulgaria
. He served as interim Prime Minister in 1997 and was a three term Mayor of Sofia.
A statistics graduate from the Karl Marx Higher Institute of Economics, Sofiyanski held a number of positions in the Ministry of Communications and Information during communist rule
. He served in the cabinet of Filip Dimitrov
and became one of the leading members of the UDF. He was elected Mayor of Sofia in 1995 and served in this position, being re-elected twice - in 1999 and 2003, until 2005 when he resigned to become a parliamentary deputy. He was appointed as caretaker PM by President Petar Stoyanov
in 1997 until such time as Ivan Kostov
could form a government.
In 2001 he announced that he was to leave the UDF and form his own party http://www.bulgaria2net.com/about/news/07112001.html. He ultimately formed the Union of Free Democrats
and, although it initially remained a part of the UDF, Sofiyanski and his party have since thrown their lot in with the Bulgarian People's Union
. On Jan 1, 2007 he joined the European Parliament
as one of Bulgaria's interim members until the elections
in May of the same year.
In June 2008 Sofiyanski drew criticism from human rights advocates for his homophobic
remarks following Bulgaria's first gay pride
parade. In an interview for Darik Radio
Sofiyanski said he "would never have authorized the parade," had he still been Sofia's mayor. With regard to the GLBT community, he stated that "those people have their rights to personal choice and privacy, however, homosexuality
is condemned by the Bible
and is unnatural, and has no right to publicity. It is as if thieves had a parade — because those people are thieves of morality."
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...
) has been a leading member of the Union of Democratic Forces
Union 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...
in Bulgaria
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...
. He served as interim Prime Minister in 1997 and was a three term Mayor of Sofia.
A statistics graduate from the Karl Marx Higher Institute of Economics, Sofiyanski held a number of positions in the Ministry of Communications and Information during communist rule
Bulgarian 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...
. He served in the cabinet of Filip Dimitrov
Filip Dimitrov
Philip Dimitrov Dimitrov is a Bulgarian politician, Prime Minister of Bulgaria for the short period 1991-1992, MP in the 36th , 37th and the 40th National Assembly, and MEP from January 2007 to May 2007....
and became one of the leading members of the UDF. He was elected Mayor of Sofia in 1995 and served in this position, being re-elected twice - in 1999 and 2003, until 2005 when he resigned to become a parliamentary deputy. He was appointed as caretaker PM by President Petar Stoyanov
Petar 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...
in 1997 until such time as Ivan Kostov
Ivan Kostov
Ivan Yordanov Kostov was Prime Minister of Bulgaria from May 1997 to July 2001 and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces between December 1994 and July 2001....
could form a government.
In 2001 he announced that he was to leave the UDF and form his own party http://www.bulgaria2net.com/about/news/07112001.html. He ultimately formed the Union of Free Democrats
Union of Free Democrats
The Union of Free Democrats is a conservative political party in Bulgaria, led by Stefan Sofiyanski. It contested the 2001 elections as part of the United Democratic Forces electoral alliance, which picked up 51 of 240 seats...
and, although it initially remained a part of the UDF, Sofiyanski and his party have since thrown their lot in with the Bulgarian People's Union
Bulgarian People's Union
The Bulgarian People's Union is an electoral alliance in Bulgaria. At the last legislative elections, 25 June 2005, it won 5.7 % of the popular vote and 13 out of 240 seats...
. On Jan 1, 2007 he joined the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
as one of Bulgaria's interim members until the elections
European Parliament election, 2007 (Bulgaria)
Bulgaria elected its members of the European Parliament in a by-election on 20 May 2007. It was the country's first European election, having joined the Union on 1 January of that year. The country now has 18 MEPs, no change from before the election. Previously Bulgaria was represented by MEPs...
in May of the same year.
In June 2008 Sofiyanski drew criticism from human rights advocates for his homophobic
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
remarks following Bulgaria's first gay pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
parade. In an interview for Darik Radio
Darik Radio
Darik Radio is a Bulgarian Radio Station, specializing in news and comments from Bulgaria. It was launched at 12 am on January 21, 1993. Darik Radio is the biggest private radio station in Bulgaria. It has an extensive network of correspondents in nearly 20 countries in Europe and North America...
Sofiyanski said he "would never have authorized the parade," had he still been Sofia's mayor. With regard to the GLBT community, he stated that "those people have their rights to personal choice and privacy, however, homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
is condemned by the Bible
The Bible and homosexuality
There are a number of direct references to homosexuality in the Bible.In Mosaic law, male homosexuality is identified as an "abomination".In the New Testament, Paul of Tarsus condemns arsenokoitēs, a term related to male homosexuality that is open to much interpretation; it could mean male...
and is unnatural, and has no right to publicity. It is as if thieves had a parade — because those people are thieves of morality."