Kao visokorangirani član Bugarske socijalističke partije (BSP), Petkov je imenovan za ministra unutrašnjih poslova tokom tročlane koalicione vlade pod vodstvom Socijalista, koja je u toj balkanskoj zemlji stupila na vlast nakon neuvjerljivih parlamentarnih izbora u junu 2005.
A senior member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Petkov was appointed interior minister in the Socialist-led three-way coalition government that took office in the Balkan nation after inconclusive parliamentary elections in June 2005.