Age, Biography and Wiki

Zhelyu Zhelev was born on 3 March, 1935 in Veselinovo, Bulgaria, is a President of Bulgaria. Discover Zhelyu Zhelev's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 80 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation Philosopher
Age 80 years old
Zodiac Sign Pisces
Born 3 March 1935
Birthday 3 March
Birthplace Veselinovo, Bulgaria
Date of death 2015
Died Place Sofia, Bulgaria
Nationality Bulgaria

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 3 March. He is a member of famous President with the age 80 years old group.

Zhelyu Zhelev Height, Weight & Measurements

At 80 years old, Zhelyu Zhelev height not available right now. We will update Zhelyu Zhelev's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
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Who Is Zhelyu Zhelev's Wife?

His wife is Maria Zheleva (m. 1961-2013)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Maria Zheleva (m. 1961-2013)
Sibling Not Available
Children Mitko (died 80 days after birth) Yordanka (died in 1993) Stanka

Zhelyu Zhelev Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Zhelyu Zhelev worth at the age of 80 years old? Zhelyu Zhelev’s income source is mostly from being a successful President. He is from Bulgaria. We have estimated Zhelyu Zhelev's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income President

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Timeline

1935

Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev (Желю Митев Желев; ; 3 March 1935 – 30 January 2015) was a Bulgarian politician and former dissident who served as the first democratically elected and non-Communist President of Bulgaria, from 1990 to 1997.

Zhelev was born in 1935 into a modest village family in Veselinovo in north-eastern Bulgaria.

1942

He was married to Maria Zheleva (3 April 1942 – 8 December 2013) and has two daughters Yordanka (1963–1993) and Stanka (born 1966).

Zhelev has two grandchildren from his daughter Stanka.

1958

He studied philosophy at Sofia University, graduating in 1958 and gaining a PhD in 1974, a remarkable achievement given that he was under a cloud as a dissident, having been expelled from the Communist Party in 1965.

After his expulsion he endured years of “social parasitism”, or unemployment in communist terminology, which he spent in virtual internal exile in his wife’s village, scraping a living from odd jobs on farms.

1965

Zhelev was a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party, but was expelled from it for political reasons in 1965.

He was unemployed for six years since all employment in Bulgaria was state-regulated.

1982

In 1982, he published his controversial work, Fascism (Фашизмът).

Three weeks after the volume's publication in 1982, the book was removed from bookstores and libraries throughout the nation, as its description of the fascist states of Italy, Germany and Spain before, during, and after World War II made these regimes comparable to the Communist regimes in the Eastern Bloc.

1988

In 1988, just before the Fall of Communism, Zhelev founded the Ruse Committee, and in 1989 he became a founding member and chairman of the Club for Support of Openness and the Reform (a time when many such democratic clubs were formed), which helped him to achieve the position of Chairman of the Coordinating Council of the Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgarian: СДС, SDS) party.

1989

Zhelev was one of the most prominent figures of the 1989 Bulgarian Revolution, which ended the 35 year rule of President Todor Zhivkov.

A member of the Union of Democratic Forces, he was elected as President by the 7th Grand National Assembly.

Two years later, he won Bulgaria's first direct presidential elections.

1990

Zhelev was elected MP in June 1990 for the 7th Grand National Assembly; the Assembly's main goal was to create a new democratic Constitution of Bulgaria.

After the resignation of President Petar Mladenov, the assembly elected Zhelev his successor on 1 August 1990.

He thus became the first head of state in 44 years who was not either a Communist or fellow traveler.

1991

Under the new constitution adopted in July 1991, the president was to be elected directly by voters, for a maximum of two terms.

1992

The first such election was held in January 1992.

Zhelev led the field in the first round, held on 12 January.

He then won in the runoff a week later against Velko Valkanov (who was endorsed by the Socialists) with 52.8% of the votes to become Bulgaria's first directly elected head of state.

He immediately suspended his membership in the UDF; the new constitution did not allow the president to be a formal member of a political party during his term.

1996

He lost his party's nomination for his 1996 reelection campaign after losing a tough primary race to Petar Stoyanov.

Zhelev sought a second term in 1996, but lost the UDF nomination to eventual winner Petar Stoyanov.

After his defeat in the 1996 UDF primaries and after the end of his presidency in 1997, Zhelev remained in politics, but on a much smaller scale.

1997

He became Honorary Chair of the Liberal Democratic Union and Honorary Chair of the Liberal International and in 1997 went on to establish and preside over a foundation named after him.

Zhelev was the initiator and president of the Balkan Political Club, a union of former political leaders from Southeast Europe.

As part of the club he voiced his support for Turkey's accession to the European Union.

2009

In 2009, Zhelev also voiced his opinion that Bulgaria should adopt a presidential system based upon the French model: "The country should have both prime minister and president, but the latter should be vested in far-reaching powers so that he may control the executive power".

2010

On 15 January 2010, Zhelev received the Macedonian state Order 8-September for his contribution to the recognition of the independence of the Republic of Macedonia from the former Yugoslavia.

Zhelev Peak on Loubet Coast, Antarctica is named after Zhelyu Zhelev "for his support for the Bulgarian Antarctic programme."

2015

Zhelev died in Sofia at the age of 79 on 30 January 2015.

Zhelyu Zhelev served as an Honorary Co-Chair for the World Justice Project (ABA).