site.btaPES President Stanishev Vows Support for Kristalina Georgieva's Nomination as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, if Portfolio Is Assigned to EPP

Sofia, August 15 (BTA) - Party of European Socialists (PES) President Sergei Stanishev has vowed to support Kristalina Georgieva's nomination as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy if the portfolio is assigned to the European People's Party (EPP). This transpired from a letter by Stanishev to the caretaker government, which was made public by the press office of the Bulgarian Socialist Party on Friday.

The caretaker government has nominated Georgieva as European Commission Vice President and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. In an open letter on Wednesday, Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki urged Stanishev to support Georgieva in her bid.

Stanishev wrote: "As you know, when assigning posts and portfolios to candidates, what is taken into consideration is not only their professional qualities, but also their affiliation with the big political families and this European principle of just balance and consensus is respected by both the EPP and PES." Stanishev recalled the socialists' support for Jean Claude Juncker as the new European Commission President.
 
Stanishev wrote that if at an upcoming European Council on August 30 a political decision is made to assign the post of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs to the EPP, then he will be more than willing to support Georgieva's nomination. "For me it will be an honour if this position is filled by a fellow Bulgarian," the PES leader says. However, he adds that if the post is assigned to PES, he will expect Bliznashki's support for the PES nominee, Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, in the spirit of the above mentioned principles and for the sake of political balance. Stanishev says if that is the case, he is open to dialogue albeit a bit late to help Kristalina Georgieva receive a key portfolio in the new European Commission.

Also, Stanishev voiced dissatisfaction that a mid-June agreement for a public discussion of the new Bulgarian EU Commissioner wasn't implemented. According to him, the nomination for EU Commissioner was made in the dark by the caretaker government. Stanishev also voiced dismay at reports that the Presidency had warned senior officials in Brussels that if the Oresharski cabinet named the Bulgarian candidate to the European Commission, then the nomination would be withdrawn by the caretaker government. "I doubt the authenticity of these reports, but if true, this will constitute a grave political scandal and interference in the work of a legitimate government," he says.