| Petya Parvanova | |
| Office: | Minister of Interior |
| Primeminister: | Marin Raykov |
| President: | Rosen Plevneliev |
| Term Start: | 12 March 2013 |
| Term End: | 29 May 2013 |
| Predecessor: | Tsvetan Tsvetanov |
| Successor: | Tsvetlin Yovchev |
| Birth Date: | 12 July 1960 |
| Birth Place: | Sofia |
| Party: | Independent |
| Alma Mater: | Sofia Kliment Ohridski University New Bulgarian University |
| Native Name Lang: | bg |
Petya Parvanova (Bulgarian: Петя Първанова; born 12 July 1960) was the interior minister of Bulgaria for a brief period in 2013. She was the first woman to head the ministry in the country.
Parvanova was born in Sofia on 12 July 1960.[1] She holds a bachelor's degree in German philology, which she received from Sofia University in 1991.[2] She received a master's degree in law from New Bulgarian University in 1998.[2]
From 1978 to 1981 Parvanova was an administrator at Balkantourist.[2] From 1982 to 1991 she served as an interpreter at the East German embassy in Sofia.[2] Later she worked as an assistant and translator at various companies. From 1999 to 2001 she served as the head of the international relations and protocol sector at the Prosecutor-General's office.[2] In 2001, Purvanova was named as the deputy director at the same body, and later, she became the director of international cooperation at the interior ministry.[2] She was promoted to the rank of police general.[3]
On 12 March 2013, she was appointed interior minister to the caretaker government led by Marin Raykov. She became the first woman interior minister of Bulgaria.[4] Her term ended on 29 May 2013 when Tsvetlin Yovchev was appointed interior minister.[5]
For the duration of her service at the Ministry of the Interior, she was awarded many times for high performance service and professionalism with medals and honors – “for valor and merit”, first degree in 2007. In 2010 she was awarded with category A – senior commissioner.
In March 2016 she was appointed Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers of Republic of Bulgaria.
On 9 May 2019, she was awarded the Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.