Nikola Minchev
{{Short description|Bulgarian politician and lawyer (born 1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nikola Minchev
| native_name = {{Nobold|Никола Минчев}}
| native_name_lang = bg
| image = Nikola Minchev cropped.jpg
| parliament = European
| constituency_MP = Bulgaria
| term_start = 16 July 2024
| office1 = Speaker of the National Assembly
| term_start1 = 3 December 2021
| term_end1 = 16 June 2022
| predecessor1 = Iva Miteva
| successor1 = Vezhdi Rashidov
| office2 = Member of the National Assembly
| term_start2 = 3 December 2021
| term_end2 = 19 June 2024
| constituency2 = 24th MMC - Sofia
(2021-2022)
16th MMC - Plovdiv
(2022-2024)
| birth_name = Nikola Georgiev Minchev
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1987|09|13}}
| birth_place = Sofia, PR Bulgaria
| children = 2
| caption = Minchev in 2024
| party = We Continue the Change
| otherparty = Renew Europe
| alma_mater = Sofia University (LLB, LLM)
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|lawyer}}
}}
Nikola Georgiev Minchev ({{langx|bg|Никола Георгиев Минчев}}; born September 13 1987) is a Bulgarian politician who was elected MEP at the 2024 European Parliament election. A member of the PP party, he previously served as Speaker of the National Assembly from 2021 to 2022 and Member of the National Assembly from 2021 to 2024.
Early life and education
Minchev was born in Sofia on September 13 1987. He graduated from the German High School in Sofia, after which he obtained a master's degree in law from Sofia University.{{Cite web|title=Continue the Change MP Nikola Minchev Elected Chairman of 47th National Assembly|url=http://www.bta.bg/en/c/DF/id/2529755|access-date=2021-12-05|website=www.bta.bg|language=en-EN}}
Career
= Lawyer =
Minchev began his career in the largest law firm in Bulgaria “Djingov, Guginski, Kyuchukov and Velichkov”. As a lawyer, he defended the rights of clients before the Arbitration Court of the International Chamber of Commerce. He has participated in conferences and lectured at the Energy Law Group (European Network of Lawyers in the Field of Energy Law). His experience also includes banking regulation and capital markets, as well as public procurement.{{Cite web|last=NewsDesk|first=Darik|date=2021-12-03|title=Who is Nikola Minchev – the new Speaker of Parliament – Around the world and in our country|url=https://darik.news/en/who-is-nikola-minchev-the-new-speaker-of-parliament-around-the-world-and-in-our-country.html|access-date=2021-12-05|website=Darik.News/en|language=en-US}} He was quoted saying as a lawyer, that good laws can be achieved with good laws, so that young people do not have to choose between happiness in Bulgaria and good realization abroad.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-03|title=Nicola Minchev is the new chairman of the parliament. who is he? -Novinite.com|url=https://worldakkam.com/nicola-minchev-is-the-new-chairman-of-the-parliament-who-is-he-novinite-com/533925/|access-date=2021-12-05|website=Worldakkam|language=en-US}}
= Chairman of National Assembly =
Bulgaria's parliament, elected Minchev as Chairman of the 47th National Assembly on their first session. He was elected in a 158-1 vote with 72 abstentions.{{Cite web|title=Continue the Change MP Nikola Minchev Elected Chairman of 47th National Assembly|url=http://www.bta.bg/en/c/DF/id/2529755|access-date=2021-12-05|website=www.bta.bg|language=en-EN}}
In his first address to Parliament as Chairman Minchev thanked the MPs for their trust in him. "Today we set the start of the new Parliament. We are in the favourable stead of people who have recently won the trust of the Bulgarians. However, this favorable position is about to end. We are now faced with tackling the more difficult task of living up to the expectations and trust put in us." In his first interview, he said the closure of the specialized court and prosecutor's office will be one of the priorities of the 47th National Assembly. He also called for the common will of parliament to be born into a quality discussion, saying "to restore the spirit of mutual understanding and a new model of quality policy. I will work for the Bulgarian Parliament to be a place for free and constructive debates and discussions."{{Cite web|title=Nikola Minchev is the New Speaker of Parliament. Who is he? - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/212539/Nikola+Minchev+is+the+New+Speaker+of+Parliament.+Who+is+he%3F|access-date=2021-12-05|website=www.novinite.com}}
Minchev announced that some changes in the rules of procedure of the deputies would be necessary. One of the possible corrections will concern political nomadism - the transfer of members of one parliamentary group to another. Consideration will also be given to whether MPs should be tested for coronavirus once a week on admission to the building, as is the case with students.{{Cite web|title=Parliamentary Speaker Nikola Minchev: The Parliament will not be an appendage of the executive branch|url=https://bnr.bg/en/post/101567432/parliamentary-speaker-nikola-minchev-the-parliament-will-not-be-an-appendage-of-the-executive-branch|access-date=2021-12-05|website=bnr.bg|language=en}}