The New President
Swirls of snow over Sofia greeted Bulgaria’s new President Rossen Plevneliev as he was formally inaugurated on January 22 2012 as the country’s new head of state.
Representatives of all arms of the military paraded for the ceremony of the handover of the post of Commander-in-Chief.
Guests of honour were arrayed in the square next to landmark St Alexander Nevsky, including former president Zhelyu Zhelev, Prime Minister Boiko Borissov and members of the Cabinet, senior state officials and the diplomatic corps. Also in attendance were Bulgaria’s European Commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva and European Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn
In his valedictory speech as President, Georgi Purvanov spoke on the theme of national unity and said that while the institution of the presidency in modern Bulgaria was relatively young, it was solid and stable. Purvanov said that he believed that all agreed that Bulgaria should have a strong and functioning presidency.
http://sofiaecho.com/2012/01/22/1750209_ceremonials-speeches-and-snowfall-as-rossen-plevneliev-becomes-bulgarias-president