Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov (Bulgarian: Георги Седефчов Първанов, ) (born June 28, 1957) was President of Bulgaria from 2002 to 2012. He was elected after defeating his predecessor Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the presidential election in November 2001 and he took office on January 22, 2002. Georgi Parvanov started his second presidential mandate following victory in the 2006 presidential election. Parvanov supports membership of Bulgaria in NATO and the European Union.
According to Bulgarian law, a Bulgarian president is not allowed to be a member of a political party, thus Parvanov is independent and he left the Socialist Party after his success in the presidential elections, although he identified as a socialist, Parvanov often declares being a 'social president'. After his second mandate Parvanov says he is going to return in BSP beginning a "leadership debate" although he does not prepare himself for party positions. Even though rumours persist that he is going to challenge Sergei Stanishev at his leader's position in BSP and even run for elections for the Prime Minister position.