B22 Blogstars: Historical Bulgarian of the Week

Historical Bulgarian of the Week - Todor Jivkov:
Saturday, April 19, 2008

Todor Hristov Jivkov (or "Toдор Xpиcтoв Живков" in Bulgarian) was born on the 7th of September in the year of 1911 in the city of Pravets, (Shaded area on the map below). He lived until he was 87 years old, passing away on the 5th of August in 1998.Todor was the first secretary of the ruling Bulgarian Communist Party's Central Committee. He started in the year 1954 and continued until 1989. He was than President of Bulgaria from 1971 until 1989. Serving 35 years as the ruler of Bulgaria made the longest-serving of any leaders in any of the Soviet-bloc nations in Eastern Europe.

Legend has it that he was the son of poor peasants. He went into Sofia as a child and joined a youth league that was outlawed by the Communist party called the "Komsomol".

He slowly gained in position in the party and during World War II he helped to organize the resistance movement known as the People's Liberation Insurgent Army. After the war, in 1951, when there was instated the Soviet backed communist government, he became a full member of the Politburo.From 1951 until the early sixties he quickly rose in position and status whereas by 1962 to 1971 Jivkov was premier of Bulgaria. Towards the latter years of his life he was voted president of the State Council that formed Bulgaria's constitution.
Jivkovs beliefs followed closely to those of the Soviet Union in regards to domestic policy and foreign affairs. Jivkov was a pretty decent leader, at least monetarily, and the standard of living rose substantially.

In 1989, after the fall of the many communist governments in Eastern Europe, Jivkov resigned. Then arrested in January 1990 and he was convicted of embezzlement in 1992 be handed a seven years prison sentence.

However, proof that "old Commies die hard", he came back and in 1998 he, like many other former Bulgarian communist leaders, became a member of the Socialist Party. He passed away that very same year.
Jivkov has made a mark on the Bulgarian political scene, being a major part of it for nearly 40 years, and is one of Bulgarias most known politicians. Thanks for reading, I hope you all have a happy Saturday.

Take care.
-Kashcaval Pane

PS- To show you the wonderful powers of Google, when I went searching for pictures of Mr. Jivkov I found the item pictured below... Mr. Todor Jivkovs signature?!?!?