Bulgaria PM Vows Reshuffle in Agriculture Ministry Too

Domestic | May 19, 2011, Thursday // 10:21|  views

"I want everyone to give 100% in their work, I don't need people, who are strolling around the world," Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has warned. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The wave of reshuffles that swept Bulgaria's government on Wednesday will have a follow-up in the agriculture ministry in a bid to improve EU funds absorption, the prime minister has said.

"I will either appoint one more deputy minister or will dismiss one of them," Boyko Borisov said in the morning broadcast of the national state TV on Thursday.

"I want everyone to give 100% in their work, I don't need people, who are strolling around the world," he added.

Bulgaria's Cabinet saw Wednesday a reshuffle of key figures, which, while not completely unexpected because of various rumors running for months, came as a bid of a surprise.

Within a matter of a couple of hours, the government saw the resignation of Transport Minister Alexander Tsvetkov, the resignation of Deputy Economy Minister in charge of energy Mariy Kosev, as well as the melodramatic finalization of the dismissal of National Social Security Institute head Hristina Mitreva.

According to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the reshuffle of his Cabinet is based on "principled rules", the more specific rationale being technical failures such as failing to boost and accelerate the absorption of EU funds.

Borisov said on Thursday he expected the return of Minister of Economy and Energy Traicho Traikov to tell him about the changes. He said restructuring of the energy sector, keeping the price of electricity low for the population and production of renewable energy are among his top priorities.

Traikov received a final warning following the scandal over the agreement for Belene nuclear power plant in early April.

Borisov said that the law on renewables is one of the reasons for the dismissal of Deputy Prime Minister Mariy Kosev.

Prime Minister answered questions about the other resignations, which became a fact on Wednesday. Asked why he dismissed the heads of the traffic police in Sofia, where six people, led by director Vanyo Stoevski were sent into retirement, he said:

"Do a poll in Sofia about whether traffic cops take bribes and, if not at least 80% of the people answer positively, then I will answer this question."

Borisov denied allegations that he piles pressure on state institutions to make political appointments, but added:

"When a party wins the election, it is in my opinion only natural that it would want to replace those close to the previous government."

Asked who will succeed Mitreva, Borisov said that the decision is up to the parliament.

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Tags: Borisov, Boyko, Prime Minister, cabinet reshuffle, Alexander Tsvetkov, Transport Minister, Ivaylo Moskovski, Mariy Kosev, Delyan Dobrev, deputy ministers, Mitreva, Hristina, NOI, National Social Security Institute, Traicho, Traikov, Bulgaria, Bulgarian

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