OFFICES OF STATE
Terms of office
- Prime minister — Zhelyazkov government
Law and local administration
Rosen Zhelyazkov graduated in law from Sofia University. His professional career began with legal work and positions in Sofia’s local administration. Biographical records trace work as legal adviser, secretary and head of administrative structures. This formed the profile of a politician with extensive experience in the organisation and legal procedures of public authority.
Speaker of the National Assembly
Before becoming prime minister, Zhelyazkov was an MP and speaker of the National Assembly from April 2023 to April 2024. His parliamentary profile documents these offices. Legislative leadership involves organising proceedings and representing parliament, while the premiership requires coordination of executive policy. His career therefore passed through two distinct centres of state power.
Government after the caretaker cabinets
In January 2025 Zhelyazkov became prime minister after Dimitar Glavchev’s two caretaker cabinets. His government coincided with the final preparations for adopting the euro. The process required European assessment, formal decisions and practical preparation by institutions, businesses and citizens. Political declarations and final legal acts were separate steps.
Adoption of the euro
On 8 July 2025 the Council of the EU adopted the final acts enabling Bulgaria to join the euro area on 1 January 2026. The ECB also recorded the agreed fixed conversion rate. Euro adoption took place during Zhelyazkov’s government, building on earlier stages including the currency board and participation in ERM II from 2020.
The transfer of office in 2026
Zhelyazkov’s cabinet ended in February 2026 with the appointment of Andrey Gyurov’s caretaker government. Assessment of the period includes both the major currency change and the domestic political environment in which it occurred. Official European acts establish the dates and conditions of accession, but do not by themselves provide a complete evaluation of the government.
Sources and documents
References accompany each section. Speeches and reports by political figures also reflect their own perspective.
- Bulgarian News Agency · Rosen Zhelyazkov biography ↗www.bta.bg
- National Assembly · Rosen Zhelyazkov ↗parliament.bg
- Council of the EU · euro adoption ↗www.consilium.europa.eu
- ECB · ERM II and euro area accession ↗www.ecb.europa.eu
- State Gazette · Decree 57/2026 ↗dv.parliament.bg
Reference data last reviewed: . End dates in the timeline indicate the handover of office.
Portrait credit
Daina Le Lardic - European Parliament · Original · European Parliament
