There has been strong discord in the ranks of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party over the nomination for the post Director of the National Social Security Institute (NOI)

The information was reported Thursday by the Bulgarian daily 24 Chassa (24 Hours).

Only on candidate remained after the GERB Member of Parliament and Deputy Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Policy, Svetlana Angelova, who was the favorite of the GERB Parliamentary Group, decided to not run for the post. The one person remaining in the race is the former Deputy Head of Bulgaria's Financial Supervision Commission Bisser Petkov, who, on his part, is the favorite of Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov.

According to 24 Chassa, GERB MPs have refused to allow Petkov to a late Tuesday meeting and hold a hearing with him, as a result from ongoing power struggle between Djankov and Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

The nomination was scheduled to become clear Wednesday evening during a meeting of the GERB Executive Committee, but Angelova announced she is withdrawing from the race while Djankov missed the meeting over taking a trip to the northern city of Vratsa, and despite expectations he would return on time.

There are reports that, once again, the decision will have to be made by Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov.

The Chair of the GERB Parliamentary Group, Krasimir Velchev, commented Thursday, the Group wants to have at least three nominations, regardless of where they would come from, and the person must be trusted by both the Finance Ministry and the Parliament, adding the decision would be made within 10 days.

"If the Group does not approve of the proposed three nominations, we will ask for another three. We will make the best choice," Velchev stressed.

Bulgaria's National Social Security Institute has been without a director since late May when the government ousted its previous favorite Hristina Mitreva causing a melodramatic address on her part to a general assembly of the institution's employees.

During her final press conference, Mitreva informed of pressure by the ruling center-right party GERB over appointing directors for the regional units of NOI of people lacking the necessary qualifications. In her words, there had been lists of candidates from the local structures of GERB in circulation.

She added that, despite the pressure, all candidates had participated in competitions with "fair and explicit" rules. As a result, only four of the suggested 17 GERB applicants had performed well and had been appointed. The appointments of these directors were the most popular hypothesis for Mitreva's resignation.

Mitreva said that Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov and Labor Minister Totyu Mladenov had been keeping her in isolation for two months, which had made her stay impossible. She dismissed accusations that she was guilty for the miscalculated social security revenues, which was the official motive behind the call for her resignation.

The Bulgarian daily Trud reported Wednesday that the MPs of the GERB party have put forth Svetlana Angelova because they are opposed to Bisser Petkov becoming the director of the Social Security Institute.

According to Trud, the GERB MPs are furious at Finance Minister Simeon Djankov for stating recently that his intention to impose a tax on their allowances that are not subject to taxation at present.

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