Kristalina Georgieva's Bid for Bulgaria President to 'Breach Constitution'
Domestic | December 5, 2010, Sunday // 19:39| viewsKristalina Georgieva, the EU's humanitarian aid commissioner, is pictured here with Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. Photo Sofia Photo Agency
A small opposition party with links to shady figures from Bulgaria's transition has risen against the prospect of Kristalina Georgieva, the EU's humanitarian aid commissioner, running for president of the country.
"Kristalina Georgieva can not run for president, because Bulgaria's Constitution forbids her to do so," reads a statement of the conservative Order, Law and Justice (RZS), circulated to the media.
It points out that Bulgaria's constitution requires that candidates for president are eligible only if they have lived in the country in the last five years.
"It is already clear that GERB will not nominate Interior Minister Tsvetanov because he proved a failure, but Kristalina Georgieva can't run either. It remains for [Prime Minister} Boyko Borisov to admit that his main political goal is to become president," says the statement.
Kristalina Georgieva won last week the title of 'European of the Year' and "Commissioner of the Year', awarded by Brussels-based media European Voice, triggering pride and enthusiasm in her home country Bulgaria.
Internet forums were overflowing with calls for Georgieva to run in next year's presidential elections.
Meanwhile it emerged that notorious Bulgarian businessman, ex-secret agent and suspected crime boss Aleksei Petrov will run for president next year.
Aleksei Petrov has unclear ties to the notorious Order, Lawfullness and Justice (RZS) party headed by Yane Yanev, and Petrov is expected to become a formal RZS member in the near future. On the other hand, he has publicly flirted with the idea of starting his own political movement, which could apparently press for a new constitutional arrangement for Bulgaria.
Since being released from detainment October 12, the Tractor/Octopus has intriguingly emerged in the center of political life.
After consulting him, Yanev released allegations against Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov that the latter had unlawfully benefited from his positions by acquiring property.
Back