Bulgaria Socialists Hail Jeleva's Withdrawal as EC Bidder

Zlateva (left) and Kutev (right) from the BSP have welcomed Jeleva's resignation. Photo by BGNES

The opposition Bulgarian Socialists Party has welcomed the decision of the country’s EC bidder Rumiana Jeleva to withdraw after her troubled EP hearing last week.

This has been stated by the International Secretary of the BSP, Denitsa Zlateva, Tuesday afternoon, at a special press conference.

The Socialists have also welcomed Jeleva’s decision to resign as Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister. Her Foreign Minister resignation, however, has not been accepted by Prime Minister Borisov.

According to Zlateva, Jeleva’s pullout is belated but it is going to put an end to a rather troublesome case.

“The policies of stubbornness followed by PM Boyko Borisov – i.e. “I will impose whatever I decide” - does not flow with the EU. Of course, the debacle could have been resolved earlier if Borisov had not been stubborn, and had withdraw Jeleva’s nomination right after her EP hearing,” she stated.

The Socialists have pointed out that Jeleva’s candidature was withdrawn since the EPP understood that it will not be approved by the EP Development Committee during the its planned session on Tuesday to vote on the bid.

The BSP Secretary Anton Kutev has commented that one of the most serious blows to the European Commission after the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty had turned out to be Boyko Borisov and his choice of Rumiana Jeleva as EC-Designate.

“However, I think I have understanding for Boyko Borisov because I can imagine that in his world it is not a big deal if the Foreign Minister does not know where the Gulf of Aden is located,” Kutev said.

The Socialists have declared their position that Jeleva must not retain the Foreign Minister job.

With respect to the new Bulgarian EU Commissioner-Designate, World Bank VP, Kristalina Georgieva, the Socialists have said they had no preliminary concerns for her but have called upon the GERB government to reconsider it appointments as a whole, especially in the social sphere.

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