CARETAKER PRIME MINISTER OGNYAN GERDZHIKOV – BIOGRAPHY

Bulgaria’s Head of State, President Roumen Radev, signed a decree on 24th of January that Ognyan Gerdzhikov would serve as the Prime Minister of the caretaker government.

Ognyan Gerdzhikov is a Bulgarian law professor and politician, Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament from 2001 to 2005. He is an author of many articles and monographs in the area of commercial law.

Prof. Gerdzhikov was born on 19th of March, 1946 in Sofia. He graduated from the Law Faculty of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". He specialised at the University of Vienna and Hamburg Institute "Max Planck" and later taught commercial law at Sofia University.

Prof. Gerdzhikov was an MP in the 39th and 40th National Assembly from the National Movement for Simeon II. On 5th of July, 2001, he was elected Speaker of the 39th National Assembly, and on 4th of February, 2005 was removed from office with 119 votes "for", 114 "against" and 1 "abstention". Gerdzhikov was removed as Speaker because according to the then opposition, he systematically returned topical issues and questions to ministers from the cabinet of Simeon Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha over political inexpediency.

Prof. Gerdzhikov was awarded "Stara Planina" order, which is the highest state honour awarded to Bulgarian citizens - heads of state and heads of government, ministers, politicians, social activists, members of the community active in the cultural field, military personnel and members of the clergy who have made an exceptional contribution to the Republic of Bulgaria.