site.bta Caretaker Government Not to Nominate new Bulgarian EU Commissioner "For Now"

Caretaker Government Not to Nominate new Bulgarian EU Commissioner "For Now"

Sofia, February 21 (BTA) - Right now, the Bulgarian caretaker government is not going to nominate a new Commissioner to fill its vacant place in the European Commission but might do it at some later stage, Prime Minister Ognyan Gerdjikov told reporters here Tuesday.

Bulgaria has been without a representative in the European Commission since January when Commission Vice President Kristalina Georgieva left Brussels for a job with the World Bank. The European Commission said that it can operate smoothly the way it is and it is up for Bulgaria to decide when to put forward its next commissioner. Ever since then, there have been two schools of thought about it in Bulgaria: that Bulgaria should immediately name a successor to make sure its interests are represented in the Commission; and that the nomination of the new commissioner should be left for a regular government which will be formed after the March 26 snap general elections.

The caretaker Prime Minister has hinted that he is willing to make a nomination while President Rumen Radev has been adamant that it is not a job for the caretaker government.

When he was asked by reporters what this "later stage" for nomination might mean, Gerdjikov said that it will depend on the circumstances.