Bulgaria Social Security Institute Head Resigns

Sotir Ushev took the helm of the Bulgarian National Social Security Institute on May 21, 2009. Photo by BGNES

Sotir Ushev, head of the Bulgarian National Social Security Institute, has submitted on Wednesday his resignation to the prime minister.

Ushev took the helm of the institution on May 21, 2009, shortly before the term of the previous parliament expired. He was elected after the then Social Minister, Socialist Emiliya Maslarova, now charged with abuse of power and embezzlement, nominated him.

Before parliament elected Ushev as head of the National Social Security Institute, he chaired the Employment Agency.

Ushev, successor of the former governor of the National Social Security Institute Yordan Hristoskov, came into office last year amid vehement opposition from the trade unions and the right-wing parties over allegations of abuse of power and embezzlement in his capacity of Employment Agency head.

He is also believed to have benefited from the scandalous repair works of a building at the town in Stara Zagora, which led to the charging of former Social and Labor Minister Emiliya Maslarova.

Prosecutors accuse Maslarova of approving a renovation project overpriced by EUR 5 M that was then embezzled using fake invoices.

Maslarova was formally charged Tuesday and released on bail worth EUR 25,500.

Bulgaria's previous Socialist-led government has been hit by a series of corruption scandals including allegations against former Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.

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