Ousted Bulgarian Diaspora Minister Rejects MP Slot

Bulgaria's Diaspora Minister Dimitrov, who is resigning Monday, will, most likely, reassume the post of Director of the National History Museum. Photo by BGNES

The Minister without Portfolio for Bulgarians Abroad, Bozhidar Dimitrov, who is expected to resign Monday, will not return to the Parliament.

The law provides for keeping the Member of the Parliament slot for those who have been nominated as ministers. The slot is taken by the next person on the ballot, but if a minister is released beyond the expiration of the term, he or she can return to the Parliament.

On Saturday, Dimitrov told the Bulgarian daily Dnevnik he would not use this right.

Dimitrov is resigning on the call of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and in the aftermath of the scandal with a large number of current Bulgarian diplomats (about 50%) who were exposed last week as collaborators and agents of the former Communist State Security (DS).

Speculations are that the former Minister will reassume his post as Director of the National History Museum, which he held until the general elections in the summer of 2009.

Dimitrov, who has also been exposed for ties with the Communist secret services as an agent under the aliases of "Kardam," "Tervel," and "Telerig," was elected MP after the Parliament included in its Code a ban for former DS collaborators to serve as chairs of Parliamentary committees. Initially, the plan was for him to chair the Culture Committee and after it proved impossible, Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, appointed him as Minister without Portfolio.

Later on, the ban was revoked by the Constitutional Court, meaning should Dimitrov decide to return to the Parliament, he could lead the Culture Committee.

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