Two young Bulgarians go to the Bundestag under the prestigious IPS program

Two young Bulgarians – Lora Varbanova from Burgas and Konstantin Pramatarov from Varna, are leaving for Berlin on March 2nd, where they will participate in the International Parliamentary Scholarship (IPS) of the German Bundestag. The program is among the most prestigious initiatives for young people with interest in politics and democratic processes and provides an opportunity for direct contact with the work of the German parliament, as well as for gaining practical experience within a few months’ stay in Berlin.

The scholarship is implemented annually in partnership with the Bundestag and is aimed at young graduates from over 40 countries. Participants work in teams of Bundestag members, get to know the legislative process, participate in seminars and academic formats and build an international network of contacts.

The ceremony of awarding the certificates to the Bulgarian participants took place at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sofia during a reception organized by Ambassador Irene Maria Plank. The event highlighted the importance of the program as a bridge between young generations and democratic institutions.

Lora Varbanova graduated in communication and media from Erasmus University Rotterdam, while Konstantin Pramatarov graduated in political science from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Both say that their path to the prestigious scholarship began in different ways, but were driven by a similar motivation - the desire to understand how an established parliamentary democracy functions in the heart of Europe.

Konstantin learned about IPS through friends who had already participated in the program. In the interview, he points out the international nature of the program and the opportunity for cultural exchange:

"By some strange coincidence, my friends participated in this scholarship both last year and the year before. I found out about the program from them and through their social networks and everyone told me extremely positive memories - how they met people from all over the world, from South America to Europe and Asia and all the way to New Zealand. Over 40 countries are participating in this edition and that's what impressed me the most - the opportunity to meet different cultures and at the same time learn more about the legislative process in Germany and how power is exercised in a country that is in the heart of Europe and is among the founding members of the European Union."

For the young political scientist, participation in the program is also an opportunity to closely observe the sustainability of German democracy in dynamic times. He expects to deepen his knowledge of the separation of powers and the mechanisms of political consensus.

Lora Varbanova, on the other hand, learned about the scholarship through the German embassy's social media profiles. According to her, her stay in Berlin will be not only an academic but also a cultural experience:

"I am leaving with the expectation, as Konstantin already mentioned, of meeting people from all over the world. This is extremely interesting – gaining experience and knowledge and seeing different perspectives on the world and politics. I would be very interested in learning more about how the German parliament functions, how decisions are made and how consensus is reached between parties with different political beliefs."

Outside of her academic interests, Lora is interested in writing and in poetry. Among her favourite authors are Bulgarian poets Damyan Damyanov and Evtim Evtimov and her interest in cinema is focused on the social impact of the film industry. Konstantin, on the other hand, is curious about history and the lessons it gives to modern societies. He also likes tennis and the achievements of Grigor Dimitrov.

The German Bundestag's International Parliamentary Scholarship does not just provide professional experience – it creates a community of young leaders who share values ​​related to democracy, the rule of law, and European cooperation.

Application deadlines and additional information about the program are published on the official channels of the German Embassy in Sofia on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

For Lora Varbanova and Konstantin Pramatarov, their stay in Berlin is just beginning. Their expectations are related not only to professional development, but also to personal growth in an environment where democratic principles are studied not only theoretically, but are experienced daily in the heart of the German parliament.