Yordanka Fandakova

Who is Yordanka Fandakova?

Yordanka Asenova Fandakova is a Bulgarian politician and Mayor of Sofia. She is the first woman to hold this position. She was elected on 15 November 2009, after defeating the Socialist's Party contender Georgi Kadiev.

Fandakova was born on 12 April 1962 in Samokov. She graduated the 35th Russian Language School in Sofia and the University of Sofia, majoring in Russian Studies. She is married and has a daughter.

Fandakova was a teacher and head teacher at the 73rd secondary school for foreign languages "Vladislav Gramatik" in Sofia. She became Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality of Culture, Education, Sports and Prevention of Abuse in 2007.

Fandakova was elected Member of Parliament for the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria in the National Assembly in the Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2009 and was made Minister of Education, Youth and Science.

In October Fandakova took a leave because of campaign-trail for mayor elections in Sofia and was substituted by Sergei Ignatov, Deputy Minister of Education and Science who after she won election was appointed as the new Minister of Education and Science.

On 15 November 2009, she was elected as mayor of Sofia. Fandakova received 66.23% of the vote in the elections held on 15 November 2009. The Socialist Party contender Georgi Kadiev received 27.71%, with a turnout of 23.17%.