Slavcho Binev
Slavcho Penchev Binev (born 10 December 1965 in Sofia), sometimes Slavi Binev, is a Bulgarian politician and former taekwondo champion.
Before politics
Binev was a taekwondo European champion in 1992. From the beginning of the 90s until 2006, Slavi Binev had been one of the main shareholders in R – System Holding AD. The company included over 100 companies and for many years dictated the modern trends in service, entertainment, construction, investments and security. R – system was ranked 34-th by The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on maximum profit for 2003. At that time the American issue Washington Times published an editorial article, entitled “New kids on the Eastern Block”, dedicated to Slavi Binev and his achievements in the business sphere. .[1]
Political career
Slavcho Binev was elected a Member of the European Parliament for the nationalist Attack party on 20 May 2007, immediately after Bulgaria joined the European Union. Along with Attack's two other MEPs, he sat with the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty (ITS) group; this group collapsed in November 2007, leaving Attack as non-inscrits members. He was Attack's candidate for Mayor of Sofia in 2007. At the 2009 European election, Attack lost one MEP, but Binev retained his seat as the second of two elected for the party. Binev and Attack remained as non-inscrits members.[1]
On 22 April 2012, he founded his own party:[2] People for Real, Open and United Democracy. Binev joined the EFD group in the European Parliament in 2012, this information was announced on his website:[3]
In March 2013, Binev attended the UK Independence Party's spring conference in the Devonshire city of Exeter, United Kingdom. Addressing delegates, Binev joked that UKIP Deputy leader Paul Nuttall did not have to wear a bullet proof vest on his visit to Sofia and thanked him for his visit on behalf of the EFD. Mr Binev also spoke of the dangers of socialism and dictatorship, whilst explaining the extent of corruption that exists in Bulgaria and emphasising the importance of democracy.[4]
Personal life
He was blessed as an archon at Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome on 3 January 2007. This sparked tensions between Bulgaria and the Holy See. The title had previously been unused in the country, but has been bestowed recently on controversial businessmen that make 'donations which do not contravene Christian morals and good manners'.[5]
References
- ^ a b {{cite web|url=http://slavibinev.com/index.php?lang=en&page=9%7Ctitle=Biography: Slavi BINEV Cite error: The named reference "Europa" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Gaydazhieva, Stanislava (23 April 2012). "Slavi Binev founds movement to oppose 'Borisov dictatorship'". New Europe. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ "?????, ????? ??????". Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ^ "WATCH THE EXETER SPRING CONFERENCE LIVE". UKIP. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ^ "Bulgaria's other crisis". The Economist. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
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