Rumiana Jeleva

Rumiana Jeleva, born on April eighteenth, nineteen sixty-nine, is a prominent Bulgarian politician and university teacher. She made history as Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs from July two thousand nine to January two thousand ten, becoming the third woman to hold this esteemed position, following in the footsteps of Irina Bokova and Nadezhda Mihailova.

A key figure in the GERB political party, Jeleva played a significant role in the party's victory during the two thousand nine parliamentary elections. Her political career also includes serving as a Member of the European Parliament from two thousand seven to two thousand nine, where she led the Bulgarian delegation in the European People's Party (EPP) Group.

In addition to her political achievements, Jeleva holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Sofia, which she completed in nineteen ninety-five, and a PhD in sociology from Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, awarded in two thousand three. Her expertise in sociology has undoubtedly informed her political endeavors.

Jeleva was nominated by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to serve as a Commissioner in the Barroso II Commission, further solidifying her influence within European politics. However, her career faced scrutiny when an article in the German newspaper Die Welt alleged that her husband had connections to the Russian mafia, raising questions about her political affiliations.