Plamen Tonchev appointed head of Bulgaria's State Security Agency

The Bulgarian National Assembly voted 175‑34‑12 to re‑appoint Plamen Tonchev as chairman of the State Security Agency (DANS). His candidacy was backed by the governing coalition – Progressive Bulgaria, GERB‑SDS and DPS – while opposition parties Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria voted against.

The appointment followed a parliamentary committee hearing on 16 July, where Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev highlighted Tonchev’s extensive professional experience and legal knowledge as guarantees of effective, transparent leadership. Tonchev, born in 1970 in Vratsa, graduated from the artillery and air‑defence military school, served in the Internal Troops, the National Security Service and the Ministry of Interior, and previously led DANS from 2021 until his dismissal in June 2025. He also received a U.S. CIA award in 2022. Critics from opposition MPs raised concerns about pending investigations involving his family, but no formal prosecutor’s report was presented.