Georgi Bliznashki 'to Be Prime Minister' in Interim Gov't

Bliznashki, who teaches Constitutional Law at the Sofia University, was formerly a BSP member, but was expelled this year. Photo by BGNES

Lecturer and civil activist prof. Georgi Bliznashki will be Bulgaria's Prime Minister within the caretaker government due to be sworn in next week, a Bulgarian daily reports.

Citing sources close to President Rosen Plevneliev, the newspaper 24 Chasa argues the head of state's decision was confirmed during his meeting with prospective cabinet members.

The first "unofficial" cabinet session was held on the outskirts of Sofia to avoid excessive media attention, the paper reveals.

Bliznashki, a former key member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), was expelled from the socialists' ranks for having initiated a petition which called a referendum on voting rules.

The initiative was first proposed by President Rosen Plevneliev, and Bliznashki's actions counted on his support, though the Bulgarian Parliament rejected the petition.

Bliznashki does not hide he was picked as a possible successor to Plamen Oresharski and that he agreed "in principle" to take the post if chosen.

Plevneliev, however, had earlier announced his plans not to reveal the interim government members' names before August 5.

Addressing core issues in energy and EU funds management, as well as ensuring that elections on October 5 would be conducted in a transparent way are the main tasks the President is to assign to the ministers during their two-month term in office.

During the reported meeting Plevneliev added "stabilization of the state" as another key priority in his talks with the prospective ministers, 24 chasa writes.

The head of state also purportedly met Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Deputy Governor Kalin Hristov, who has also been described as a possible next Prime Minister.

Hristov was seen as he was entering the Bulgarian Presidency's building on Thursday, hours after a number of media outlets argued a meeting of the caretaker government's members was on schedule.

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