Todor Petrov

Todor Petrov (born 19 March 1960) is a Macedonian nationalist.[4][5] He is president of the World Macedonian Congress (WMC).[6][7] Petrov is a councillor in the electorate of Gazi Baba.[8]

Todor Petrov
President of World Macedonian Congress
Assumed office
15 September 1990
Member of the Macedonian Assembly
In office
1990–1994
Personal details
Born (1960-03-19) 19 March 1960
Gevgelija, Macedonia, Yugoslavia (today in North Macedonia)
NationalityMacedonian
Political partyIndependent
ResidenceSkopje, North Macedonia
Alma materSs. Cyril and Methodius University
OccupationNationalist, far right political activist, politician[1][2][3]
ProfessionEconomist

Early life and education

Petrov was born on 19 March 1960 in Gevgelija. He finished his primary and high school in Gevgelija, then he attended the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University where he earned a bachelor's degree in Economics.[9]

Career

World Macedonian Congress

Petrov is president of the World Macedonian Congress (WMC),[6][7] which is an informal world parliament of Macedonians and former Macedonian government-in-exile established in 1898 in Geneva, Switzerland.[9][10] The World Macedonian Congress is an affiliate to UN as international non-government organisation.[9] He has been re-elected several times as president of WMC, with his last election being in 2012 with his mandate expiring in 2016.[11][12]

Makedonsko Sonce

Todor Petrov used to be chairman of the weekly newspaper Makedonsko Sonce, where he promoted the Macedonian cause.[13]

Flag of the Republic of Macedonia (1992–1995)
The flag of the Republic of Macedonia between 1992 and 1995, bearing the Vergina Sun

In 1991, when the Republic of Macedonia declared independence, Todor Petrov successfully proposed the Vergina Sun symbol as the official flag of Republic of Macedonia.[14] In 1992 the newly formed country displayed the symbol on its new flag. This lasted until 1995, when the Republic of Macedonia was forced to modify its flag due to objections by Greece.

Member of Parliament

In 1990, during the first democratic elections Todor Petrov was elected as the Member of Parliament from Gevgelija.[15] Until today he is one of the only three members of parliament who entered parliament as independent candidates.[16][17] During his four years as a member of parliament, he made over 2000 amendments, which make him the biggest amendment proposer in Macedonia politics.

2004 referendum

In 2004, Todor Petrov and World Macedonian Congress initiated 2004 Macedonian referendum against changes of administrative divisions. According to the government proposal of municipal border, which would decrease the percentage of Macedonians, and transform Struga and Kicevo into Albanians dominated cities, as well as make Albanian to be official language in capital Skopje.[18][19] Prior to the vote, a Macedonian newspaper carried a story suggesting that if the referendum succeeded, Albanian militants had planned to blow up a pipeline carrying water to the capital Skopje.[20] Just a day before the referendum, the U.S. recognised Macedonia under its constitution name, therefore trying to change the public opinion and putting pressure.[21] Although 95% voted in favour of the change, the voter turnout of 27% was well below the 50% threshold, and the referendum was unsuccessful.[22][23]

Presidential bid

In 2009, Todor Petrov was nominated to be candidate of VMRO-DPMNE for president of Macedonia. He was not able to secure his candidacy at the party's convention, and VMRO-DPMNE appointed as the party's presidential candidate Gjorge Ivanov, who later became President of Macedonia.[24]

Human rights activities

Petrov has sent thousand of appeals to Western countries and international organisations in order to aware them of the harsh position of Macedonians living in the broader region of Macedonia and demanding basic human rights for them. Also, he is appealing for basic human rights of the Macedonian child refugees expelled from Greece.[25] He is often promoting collecting humanitarian aid through Macedonian diaspora. Also, Todor Petrov took part in organising of collecting of 400,000 Australian dollars for help to the families of the Macedonian soldiers killed in action during the war in Macedonia in 2001.[26] Also, he organised humanitarian aid for the Macedonian refugees in 2001.[27]

See also

References
  1. Loring M. Danforth, The Macedonian conflict: ethnic nationalism in a transnational world, Princeton University Press, 1995, p.101
  2. "The Centre for SouthEast European Studies". CSEES.net. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  3. Freedom House, Country Report: Macedonia
  4. "Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, The radical right in Macedonia, Zdravko Saveski, Artan Sadiku, December 2012, p. 1" (PDF). FES.de. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  5. "Nationalists block NATO route from Macedonia". ChicagoTribune.com. 19 August 2001. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  6. "Bulgaria Reverts to Past Totalitarian Practices and Bans Macedonian and US Citizens from Attending Macedonian Commemorations". Macedonian Human Rights Movement International. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  7. "Two officers for one Todor Petrov". FOCUS News Agency Home / Скандал на деня. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  8. "Plus Info MK - News related to Todor Petrov". PlusInfo.mk (in Macedonian). Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  9. Official website of World Macedonian Congresss
  10. ""Interview with Todor Petrov, President of WMC", Macedonian Sun, 18 January 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  11. "telma.mk -". www.Telma.com.mk. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  12. "Утрински весник". www.Utrinski.com.mk. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. Official website of Makedonsko Sonce Archived 29 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Macedonia: The "Sun of Vergina" flag (1992-1995)". FlagSpot.net. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  15. "Petrov Todor 91". www.Sobranie.mk. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  16. "Official website of Macedonian Assembly". Sobranie.mk. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  17. "Official website of State Election Commission of Macedonia" (PDF). SEC.mk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  18. "TV Sitel (In Macedonian)". Sitel.com.mk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  19. bebushkaMK (27 March 2013). "Законот за територијална поделба (2004)". Retrieved 14 May 2017 – via YouTube.
  20. "What Fear Motivated the West's Anti-Referendum Hysteria?", Balkan Analysis, 2004-11-09, accessed on 18 March 2007 Archived 20 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  21. "A narrow squeak". 11 November 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2017 – via The Economist.
  22. Election Profile IFES
  23. "IFES Election Guide - Elections: Macedonia Referendum Nov 7 2004". www.ElectionGuide.org. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  24. Newspaper Vecer
  25. "Sky.mk". Sky.mk. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  26. "Dnevnik". Star.Dnevnik.com.mk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  27. "aktivnosti.html". ZMD.ch. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
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