Petar Nikolov-Zikov () (born June 3, 1979), also known professionally as Petar Nikolov (), is a Bulgarian political scientist, historian, politician, and associate professor at the New Bulgarian University (NBU) and Deputy Minister of Education and Science in the third cabinet of Boyko Borissov. A self-described conservative, Nikolov is a proponent of Christianity, patriotism, and capitalism.
Petar Nikolov was born on June 3, 1979, to Nikolay Nikolov-Zikov. He graduated from the National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures in 1998. He also received a bachelor's degree in political science at Sofia University in 2002, and a master's degree in political management in 2004. Nikolov has three daughters from his first marriage and a son from his second.
Since 1999, Nikolov has published articles in newspapers such as Democracy, Pro and Anti, and Seven. In 2000, he joined the analysis department of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF). After the UDF split in 2004, Nikolov became the head of the political bureau of Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB). From 2008 to 2009, he hosted a political TV show, Thursday Club.
Nikolov was awarded a PhD by the New Bulgarian University (NBU) in 2010. Since 2019, he has been an associate professor of political science at NBU and teaches bachelor's and master's degree courses in the departments of political science, history, and other departments.
In 2011, he published his first book, The Birth of Bulgarian Conservatism. The following year, he published The House of Sratsimir, followed by his historical monograph, The True Story of the Principality of Vidin. In 2017, Nikolov published his fourth monograph, The Political Conservatism, co-written with his colleague from NBU, Dr. Irena Todorova. It is currently out of print. From 2015 to 2017, Petar Nikolov was the editor-in-chief of the academic magazine Conservative Quarterly. In 2019, he published his fifth book, The Bulgarian Monarchy.
Nikolov first ran for parliament in 2009, driving the DSB list in Lovech. Although he did not become an MP, he was awarded a seat on the national committee of the party by the leader, Ivan Kostov. He soon became Kostov's main spokesperson. Nikolov was the strategist behind Proshko Proshkov's campaign, contesting to become the mayor of Sofia in 2011. Proshkov won the internal elections in DSB and became the party nominee but subsequently lost to the sitting mayor. Due to internal conflicts, Nikolov and Proshkov left the party together with Daniel Mitov and Hristo Angelichin (future minister and deputy minister of foreign affairs), eventually all joining the Bulgaria for Citizens Movement (BCM), in 2012. With BCM in 2013, Nikolov ran another unsuccessful campaign for MP.
In 2014, Nikolov founded the Institute for Right-Wing Policy, which aimed to promote and facilitate the coalition between GERB and the Reformist Bloc. After the coalition came into existence, Nikolov was appointed parliamentary secretary of the Council of Ministers by PM Boyko Borissov.
In 2017, Nikolov announced his intentions to run for parliament on behalf of the United Patriots. However, he did not win a seat in BulgariaâÂÂs National Assembly, where parties and candidates must clear an electoral threshold to gain representation. Although his candidacy was initially promoted for the post of culture minister, during the formation of the coalition between GERB and the United Patriots, Nikolov was instead appointed Deputy Minister of Education and Science.
Petar Nikolov has written multiple scientific articles. His published works include: