MARGARITA POPOVA

Margarita Popova was born on the 15th of May 1956.

In 1975 she graduated from the “Bertolt Brecht” High school in Pazardjik.

In 1980 she graduated as a Master of Bulgarian Philology with a second degree in German language from the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. Since 1989 she holds a Masters Degree in Law from the Sofia University.

From 1981 to 1988 she works as a proofreader in the Military publishing unit of the Ministry of defense of Bulgaria.  

From 1990 to 2009 she works as a prosecutor in the Prosecutor’s Office of Republic of Bulgaria consecutively as a junior prosecutor, district prosecutor, prosecutor in the Regional Prosecutor’s Office and deputy regional prosecutor. From 1996 to 2004 is an Administrative Director of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Sofia.   

From 2005 to 2009 is a constant teacher and teacher in the National Institute of Justice.

In 2007 by competition she takes the position of Prosecutor in the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor’s Office and in the period 2008-2009 manages the department for Counteraction and investigation of criminal offenses against the financial system of the EU, established with the support of Western European experts and the management of OLAF.

In July 2009 she takes the position of Minister of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria. In this period are developed projects for some important national policies: Strategy for continuation of the judicial reform in the circumstances of the European membership with critical changes of the Law for the judicial system; Concept for criminal policy with starting of a project for a new Penal Code; Forfeiture of property, acquired through criminal or illegal activities, together with experts from the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe; Concept for state policy in the field of children justice, together with experts from France; Concept in the field of administrative criminal justice.

On the 22.01.2012 after direct elections she takes up the duties of Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

She specialized consecutively in the United States (1998), Hungary (1999), Germany (2001 – 2005), France (2005 – 2006) in the field of pre-trial and judicial investigation; investigation of crimes against the intellectual property; organized crimes; transboundary organized crimes and anti-corruption; structure and competences of European judicial and prosecutorial authorities; enforcement of sentences; European cooperation in the field of criminal law; management of legislative structures; structural models and educational programs for prosecutors in the National institute of justice; education of junior magistrates.

Since November 2012 is a vice president of the First assembly of the member states of the Agreement for establishment of International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).

In 2012 is elected for president and member of the Management Board of the International Anti-Corruption Academy.

In the period 2012 – 2017 is a Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Since the 23th of January 2017 is Vice President and General Secretary of the Bulgarian Industrial Association.