Zhelev, Zhelyu (1935–)

Zhelyu Zhelev, Bulgarian philosopher and politician, is a former dissident and president of Bulgaria (1990 to 1997). He graduated with a degree in philosophy from Sofia University (1958) and earned a Ph.D. (1974) and a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree (1988). As a philosopher, he worked in the field of ontology. He had membership in the Bulgarian Communist Party but was expelled in 1965 for questioning Leninist theory. He subsequently was expelled from Sofia (1966), spending 6 years without employment. In 1974 he started work at the Institute of Culture as head of the Culture and Personality Department (1977–1982).

Zhelev is the author of a number of books and publications. In 1967 he finished his book Fascism, which was published 15 years later. Three weeks after ...