site.btaLaw Professor Heads Bulgaria's Caretaker Government

Sofia, August 5 (BTA) - Law professor Georgi Bliznashki heads the caretaker government which was formed by President Rosen Plevneliev Tuesday to prepare snap elections in Bulgaria on October 5. The government will have four deputy prime ministers, including one in charge of justice.

This is the fourth caretaker government since the 1989 start of democratic changes in Bulgaria and the second formed by President Plevneliev.

Announcing the compotition and priorities of the caretaker government, the President called it "expert and non-partisan".

He said it is an opportunity for Bulgaria to undertake important measures: sign the partnership agreement with the European Commission for 2014-2020, start the procedure for joining the European banking supervision mechanism and sign the Bulgaria-NATO 2020 programme.

"Inaction during a crisis is inadmissible and dangerous," said the President.

The caretaker government will not seek revenge but will tell the truth and will not conceal the real condition of the country, the Head of State said.

"It will do a thorough analysis of the implementation of the budget as of July 31 and will prepare a budget forecast until the end of the year. It will show the real picture about the finances in this country, the deficit, the fiscal reserve, the debt, the revenue that has not been collected, the inflated expenditures, the unpaid bills to the construction companies, municipalities, hospitals and others, the public procurements and contracts that have been signed even though no funding is available for them."

The President also said that the government will revise the Regions in Growth Programmes, project by project, and re-target money for emergency relief after the recent devastating floods in some parts of the country, and for supporting EU-funded projects for which Brussels' funding has been suspended.

Also, the government will prepare an update of the national budget for 2014 and will leave it for adoption by the next Parliament.

It will be open to the civil society and will prove that the ideas that people generate can be part of government programme. "The civil society is the real hero of the past year," said Plevneliev.

At its very first sitting, the government will put forward Kristalina Georgieva as the Bulgarian candidate for the new European Commission.

It will also set up an Energy Board with the participation of international partners. "It reinstate an integrated approach in the energy sector where everybody comes together to address the problems in this troubled sector - rather than deal with a few elect under the table."

South Stream will remain frozen until it gets a green light from the European Commission, said Plevneliev.

Following is the line-up of the caretaker government:

Georgi Bliznashki: Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Ministers:
Ekaterina Zaharieva - Economic Policy
also Minister of Regional Development and Investment Planning

Yordan Hristoskov: Social Policy
also caretaker Minister of Labour and Social Policy Minister:

Hristo Ivanov: Justice, Home Affairs and Security

Iliana Tsanova: Management of EU Funding

Ministers:

Daniel Mitov: Foreign Affairs

Roumen Porozhanov: Finance

Vassil Shtonov: Economy and Energy

Svetlana Zhekova: Environment 

Nikolina Angelkova: Transport, Communications and IT

Vassil Groudev: Agrticulture and Foods 

Yordan Bakalov: Interior

Velizar Shalamanov: Defence

Miroslav Nenkov: Health care

Roumyana Kolarova: Education

Martin Ivanov: Culture

Evgenia Radanova: Youth and Sport.