Ex-Foreign Minister and GERB MP Nominated for Ombudsman
- The first official nominations for the crucial role of national Ombudsman are now clear.
- The Ombudsman post has been vacant as last April,following Diana Kovacheva's departure to serve as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights.
- before his tenure as Minister of Justice (2001-2005), anton Stankov, currently 59, served as a judge in several courts and lectured at Sofia University "st.
Key Candidates Emerge for National Ombudsman Position
Table of Contents
- Key Candidates Emerge for National Ombudsman Position
- National Ombudsman Selection: Key Candidates and teh Process Explained
- Frequently Asked Questions About the National Ombudsman Selection
- Who are the leading nominees for the National Ombudsman post?
- why is the Ombudsman post vacant?
- What is the deadline for submitting nominations?
- Who nominated Anton Stankov?
- What is Anton Stankov’s background?
- Who has nominated Dzhama Grozdanova?
- What are Dzhama Grozdanova’s plans if selected?
- Is Maya Manolova running for Ombudsman again?
- Who else is perhaps in the running?
- What is the role of major political forces in the nomination process?
- How is the Ombudsman selected?
- Candidate Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions About the National Ombudsman Selection
Published: 2025-03-10
The first official nominations for the crucial role of national Ombudsman are now clear. The selection process is underway following established procedures, as outlined in the Ombudsman Act.
Leading Nominees for Ombudsman
Among the nominees are prominent figures, including:
- Anton Stankov: Former minister of Justice in the “Saksokoburggotski” cabinet.His documents have been submitted to the parliament’s registry.
- Dzhama Grozdanova: Former MP from GERB,who later departed from the party.
The Ombudsman post has been vacant as last April,following Diana Kovacheva’s departure to serve as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights. The deadline for submitting nominations is March 13.
Anton Stankov’s Background
before his tenure as Minister of Justice (2001-2005), anton Stankov, currently 59, served as a judge in several courts and lectured at Sofia University “st. Kliment Ohridski.” After leaving his ministerial post, he returned to the Sofia City Court. In 2007,he became Deputy Chairman of the National bureau for Control of Special Intelligence Means,a position he held until September 2009.He is currently a managing partner in a law firm.
Dzhama Grozdanova’s Nomination
Dzhama Grozdanova’s documents for public Defender will be officially submitted on Tuesday. She is nominated by the National Patient Organization, which unites over 50 member organizations. Her candidacy is supported by letters from the National Network for Children, Association “Animus,” Foundation “I Want a Baby,” Foundation “Campaign 21 Bulgaria,” “Association of Patients wiht Oncological Diseases,” and Foundation “SOS-Families at Risk.” Grozdanova is set to present her concept for the Ombudsman of Bulgaria upon submitting her candidacy.
Potential Candidates and Political Dynamics
Former Ombudsman Maya Manolova is also expected to join the race. She has expressed her intent, but it remains unclear who will nominate her.
Manolova is considered a frontrunner for the position. However, unofficial sources suggest that the ruling powers might support Maria Filipova, the current Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection Commission. Filipova has been especially active in recent months against telecommunications companies, banks, swift loan firms, and hypermarkets.
As of now, the major political forces in parliament have not commented on whether they have their own nominations for the post.
National Ombudsman Selection: Key Candidates and teh Process Explained
The selection of a new National Ombudsman is underway in Bulgaria. This Q&A provides a thorough overview of the key candidates, the nomination process, and the political dynamics surrounding this crucial role.
Frequently Asked Questions About the National Ombudsman Selection
Who are the leading nominees for the National Ombudsman post?
As of March 10, 2025, the leading nominees include:
Anton Stankov: Former Minister of Justice in the “Saksokoburggotski” cabinet.
Dzhama Grozdanova: Former MP from GERB (a political party).
Maya Manolova: Former Ombudsman (expected to join the race).
Maria Filipova: Current Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection Commission (potential candidate).
why is the Ombudsman post vacant?
The Ombudsman post has been vacant since april 2024. The previous Ombudsman, Diana Kovacheva, departed to serve as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights.
What is the deadline for submitting nominations?
The deadline for submitting nominations for the National Ombudsman is March 13, 2025.
Who nominated Anton Stankov?
According to Zonanews.bg, Anton Stankov’s nomination was submitted on March 7th by the “Association bulgarian School for Politics Dimitar Panitza,” a non-profit organization.
What is Anton Stankov’s background?
Anton Stankov has a diverse background in law and academia:
Served as Minister of Justice (2001-2005).
worked as a judge in several courts.
Lectured at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.”
Deputy Chairman of the National Bureau for Control of Special Intelligence Means (2007-2009).
currently a managing partner in a law firm.
Who has nominated Dzhama Grozdanova?
Dzhama Grozdanova is nominated by the National Patient Organization, which unites over 50 member organizations. Her candidacy has support letters from numerous organizations focused on children’s welfare, patient advocacy, and family support.
What are Dzhama Grozdanova’s plans if selected?
Dzhama Grozdanova plans to present her concept for the role of Ombudsman upon submitting her candidacy.
Is Maya Manolova running for Ombudsman again?
Yes, Maya Manolova, a former Ombudsman, is expected to enter the race. Though, it is indeed currently unclear who will nominate her.
Who else is perhaps in the running?
Unofficial sources suggest that the ruling powers might support Maria Filipova, the current Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection Commission. She has been active in addressing issues related to telecommunications companies, banks, and other large businesses but this remains speculation.
What is the role of major political forces in the nomination process?
As of March 10, 2025, the major political forces in parliament have not publicly commented on whether they will put forth their own nominations for the Ombudsman post.
How is the Ombudsman selected?
The selection process follows established procedures as outlined in the Ombudsman Act. More details on the specific steps can be found at: https://www.ombudsman.bg/en/p/ombudsman-act-265
Candidate Overview
| Candidate | Background | nominating Organization(s) |
| —————— | —————————————————————————————————————————————————— | ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– |
| anton Stankov | Former minister of Justice, judge, lecturer, Deputy Chairman of the National Bureau for Control of Special Intelligence Means, managing partner in a law firm. | “Association Bulgarian School for Politics Dimitar Panitza” |
| Dzhama Grozdanova | Former MP from GERB | National Patient Organization (supported by the National Network for Children, Association “Animus,” Foundation “I Want a Baby,” Foundation “campaign 21 Bulgaria,” “Association of Patients with Oncological Diseases,” and Foundation “SOS-Families at Risk”) |
| Maya Manolova | Former Ombudsman | To be determined |
| Maria Filipova | Current Chairwoman of the consumer Protection Commission | Potential support from ruling powers* |