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Jun 23, 2026 Major2
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Jordan Tsonev Retires from Politics After 36 Years
Jordan Tsonev, a veteran Bulgarian politician with nearly 36 years in public service spanning 13 parliamentary terms, announced his retirement from politics following his removal from DPS party leadership positions in mid-June 2026.
Quick Facts
Who
Jordan Tsonev
What
Retirement announcement from politics
When
June 15, 2026 (Central Council meeting)
Where
Bulgaria
- Retirement announcement from politics
- Removal from DPS deputy chairman position
- Removal from Central Operative Bureau
- Failed to secure parliamentary seat
- Leadership restructuring within DPS
Jordan Tsonev announced his retirement from politics after nearly four decades of public and party service. The decision came one week after leadership changes within the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, which removed him from his position as deputy chairman and membership in the Central Operative Bureau (COB).
Tsonev requested his own release from all posts, stating that his decision to leave politics was firm. "I have been doing this since 1990, 36 years is enough," he told Club Z, adding that he turns 70 this year. He explained that he did not wish to run for parliament as a candidate but was asked to do so to help younger members of the party. Despite leading electoral lists in Varna and Veliko Tarnovo, Tsonev failed to secure a seat in the 52nd National Assembly, ending a parliamentary career spanning 13 legislatures over the past 30 years.
The changes to DPS leadership, announced following a June 15 Central Council meeting, also removed deputy chairman Stanislav Anastasov and stripped Hamid Hamid and Bayram Bayram from the party's inner circle. DPS leader Delyan Peevski justified the changes as responses to an analysis of party structures and recent election results. The party's official statement notably omitted the names of the four removed figures, citing only the new COB composition.
The timing of these changes reflects broader challenges facing DPS. The party achieved historically weak results in recent parliamentary elections, and all four removed officials faced questions from media in parliamentary corridors but declined to comment. Sources suggest the leadership restructuring may represent either a symbolic gesture to appease discontented party structures—following recent departures in municipalities like Kirkovo and Novi Pazar—or preliminary steps toward potential realignment within minority-focused political formations.
Tsonev's departure marks the end of an influential presence in Bulgarian politics. Though he remained circumspect about the party's internal dynamics, his exit underscores ongoing tensions within DPS as the political landscape shifts with the emergence of new powerful actors in parliament.
Why This Matters
Tsonev's retirement marks a significant generational shift within Bulgaria's minority-focused DPS party, which is currently undergoing internal restructuring amid weak electoral performance. His departure—along with the simultaneous removal of four senior figures—signals deepening tensions within the party and reflects broader instability in minority political representation in Bulgaria. For readers tracking Eastern European political dynamics, this underscores how aging political establishments are being recalibrated to accommodate new power structures in parliament.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 1990
WireJordan Tsonev begins political career
Jan 1, 2026
WireJordan Tsonev turns 70 years old
Jun 15, 2026
WireDPS Central Council meeting results in leadership changes; Tsonev removed from deputy chairman and COB positions
Jun 23, 2026
WireJordan Tsonev publicly announces retirement from politics