Khaled Mashal vs Kiril Petkov

Mashal was elected head of Hamas's political bureau in 1996, based in Jordan. He became the movement's top political leader, overseeing diplomacy, fundraising, and strategy from exile.

Mashal survived a Mossad assassination attempt in Amman, Jordan, in September 1997. Israeli agents injected him with poison, but Jordanian authorities captured the agents. In exchange for their release, Israel provided an antidote and released Ahmed Yassin from prison.

Mashal moved Hamas's political bureau to Qatar in 2012, after leaving Syria due to the civil war. From Doha, he continued to lead Hamas's diplomatic efforts, securing financial and political support from Gulf states.

Mashal stepped down as Hamas political bureau chief in 2017, succeeded by Ismail Haniyeh. He remained a senior figure in the movement, focusing on reconciliation efforts with Fatah and maintaining Hamas's international relations.

Kiril Petkov co-founded the 'We Continue the Change' party with Asen Vasilev, focusing on anti-corruption and reform. The party quickly gained popularity, winning the November 2021 parliamentary elections.

Petkov became Prime Minister in December 2021, leading a four-party coalition government. His cabinet included technocrats and reformers, aiming to tackle corruption and modernize Bulgaria's economy.

Petkov's government lifted Bulgaria's veto on EU accession talks with North Macedonia, agreeing to a compromise that addressed historical issues. The decision was praised by the EU but criticized by nationalists in Bulgaria.

Petkov's government lost a no-confidence vote in June 2022, triggered by disagreements over the North Macedonia veto and internal coalition tensions. The collapse led to early elections and a return to political instability.