Bulgaria EC Commissioner Tops Former Tsar Party's EP List

Bulgaria's EC Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, was nominated to lead the NMSP list for the European Parliament elections.

The news was announced Saturday upon the conclusion of the meeting of the political council of the National Movement for Stability and Progress party (NMSP) of former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg.

The party decided to meet Saturday because April 25 is the day of the signing of the agreement for Bulgaria's accession to the European Union fours years ago.

Antonya Parvanova is second on the list, followed by the party spokesperson, Stanimir Ilchev, while the only current Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from NMSP, Bilyana Raeva is fourth.

Kuneva, who is the European Commission's (EC) Consumer Protection Commissioner, said she had received the full support of the EC President, Jose Manuel Barroso, to run for the MEP post and has taken a three-week leave from her EC duties.

Kuneva further stated if she was to win a MEP seat, she would consider offering her spot to the second person from the NMSP list in order to finish her Commissioner term, adding she would make the decision after the elections.