Former Bulgarian EU Commissioner Confirms Vice Presidential Nominee

Independent Presidential candidate Meglena Kuneva has confirmed Lubomir Hristov as her Vice-Presidentlal Nominee. Photo by BGNES

Former EU Commissioner and Presidential Candidate Meglena Kuneva presented Tuesday her Vice-Presidential Nominee, Lubomir Hristov, "an economist, who is civically-engaged and an expert with significant achievements".

Hristov is part of the 53-member initiative committee which officially backed Kuneva's presidential nomination on June 06.

He currently chairs the Institute of Certified Financial Consultants (ICFC) and is a member of the European Commission's Expert Group on Financial Education (EGFE) and the European Banking Authority's (EBA) stakeholder group.

He holds a PhD in economics and reads lectures at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE).

Hristov has been chief economist at the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), an advisor to the executive director of the World Bank and an executive director of Bulgaria's Central Depository (CD).

The economist has already opposed Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov's proposal for the introduction of a fiscal board as a "solution to a problem which Bulgaria does not have".

In his words, introducing standing formal regulatory restrictions on state spending could have the opposite effect, exposing Bulgaria to a risk of destabilization and eroded confidence in the country and the policies led by the previous governments.

Hristov has repeatedly called for a real and efficient reform of the public sector and for lifting the administrative hurdles before the private sector.

"The economic focus is of great importance for a successful next term in office", Kuneva said during Tuesday's press conference, reminding that "a number of pending problems, including the poor education of Bulgarian students, healthcare, administration, etc have their roots in the economy".

According to Kuneva, who is running as an independent candidate in the October presidential elections, Hristov is a civically-engaged person who will stay in constant touch with the Bulgarian municipalities and facilitate investment flows into the country.

"I will count on him for an active diplomacy in the sphere of human rights", Kuneva said, adding that he has experience in the spheres of human rights and consumer protection.

Bulgaria's first and former EU Commissioner and chief negotiator on EU accession vowed to put Hristov's skills to the best use in the five years to come.

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