Background
Fandakova was born on 12 April 1962 in Samokov.
Fandakova was born on 12 April 1962 in Samokov.
She graduated the 35th Russian Language School in Sofia and the University of Sofia, majoring in Russian Studies.
She is the first woman to hold this position. She was elected on 15 November 2009, after defeating the Bulgarian Socialist Party contender Georgi Kadiev. Fandakova was a teacher (from 1985) and head teacher (since 1998) at the 73rd secondary school for foreign languages "Vladislav Gramatik" in Sofia.
She became Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality of Culture, Education, Sports and Prevention of Abuse in 2007.
On 15 November 2009, she was elected as mayor of Sofia. Fandakova received 66.23% of the vote in the elections held on 15 November 2009.
The Socialist Party contender Georgi Kadiev received 27.71%, with a turnout of 23.17%.
Fandakova is a member of the conservative GERB party. Fandakova was elected Member of Parliament for GERB in the National Assembly in the Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2009 and was made Minister of Education, Youth and Science.