Bulgaria's former EU Commissioner Meglena Kuneva has played down rumors that she might run for President of the country in the October 2011 elections.

Kuneva, who was Bulgaria's first ever EU Commissioner, in charge of consumer protection at the EC in 2007-2009, has often been mentioned in Bulgarian media as a primary bidder for the Bulgarian Presidency.

Speaking in Plovdiv of Tuesday, however, Kuneva did not provide any definitive indications that she might run for the Presidency.

"I know that this has been a topic tackled by the journalists. I appreciate the good will, of course, because many people express their desire, support, and stimulate such thoughts in me but for today – this is not a topic for me. What I want is to see huge public dynamic that can set tasks for a Bulgarian institution," Kuneva said.

She mentioned she deems more important to be satisfied with the situation in Bulgaria rather than to seek an important post for herself.

If she decides to run, Kuneva will most likely be the candidate of the National Movement for Stability and Prosperity of former Tsar and PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg. The NMSP party was in the Bulgarian government as part of coalitions in 2001-2009.

While the party itself failed to qualify for the Parliament in the 2009 general elections, Kuneva has emerged as a public figure associated with the party capable of generating much public support. Recent media reports in Bulgaria have also mentioned that the ex Tsar and PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg (Tsar of the Bulgarians in 1943-1946, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria in 2001-2005).

In September 2010, Meglena Kuneva was appointed as Chair of the Governing Board of the European Policy Center, an independent, not-for-profit think tank committed to European integration.

Kuneva, who was part of the first Barroso Commission, became known for her strong criticism of European banks and the fees they impose on customers, but was also praised for her effectiveness, and particularly for her focus on online protection and revising consumer law.

Upon expiration of her Commissioner's term, Meglena Kuneva was first tipped to be the next head of the Commission's in-house think-tank, the Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA), but was later reported to have been denied the appointment.

In April Kuneva, was appointed a political advisor of Vice President of EC, Siim Kalas. At the end of June the European Commission approved her appointment as a member of the Board of Directors of France's banking group BNP Paribas, which raised concerns on part of Transparency International.

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