Regional Devt Minister Denies He Is in Talks to Become Bulgarian PM

Regional Development Minister Rosen Plevneliev will not become Bulgaria`s next prime minister if Boyko Borisov runs for and is elected president. Photo by BGNES.

Citing a loaded agenda of ongoing infrastructure projects, Regional Development Minister Rosen Plevneliev rejected allegations that he would become prime minister if Boyko Borisov runs for and is elected president.

In an interview for bTV's morning broadcast Monday, Plevneliev explained that he was too busy to even consider such options, mentioning the forthcoming launch of 6 major highway sections and the the pending talks over another 15 highway sections.

Minister Plevneliev has been referred to as the next likely prime minister, provided that Boyko Borisov runs for and is elected president in the fall of 2011; he has also been mentioned himself as a likely presidential candidate of the ruling party GERB because he enjoys the highest public approval among Bulgarian politicians.

In Plevneliev's words, however, "Boyko Borisov keeps his political and expert teams separate. I am part of the expert team."

When asked about his plans for the future, Plevneliev firmly rejected pursuing a political career, saying that he would rather become a lecturer and work with the non-governmental sector.

As regards the Lyulin Highway, which was launched Sunday afternoon, the Minister pledged to ensure lighting at road intersections in three months' time.

Responding to a tip-off about flooding in the village of Malo Buchino, Plevneliev said that representatives of the local authorities had been present at the signing of the memorandum for the construction of the Lyulin Highway and that he had not received any notice of such incident.

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