From New Europe

The whole European Union is watching as Rumiana Jeleva’s candidacy for European Commissioner is one of the few sticking points of its acceptance by the European Parliament. Though Jeleva’s performance was not satisfactory, it was falsely alleged that Jeleva had not made accurate statements of commercial activities to the European Parliament. While political analysts argued over the legality Jeleva’s statements, there was widespread consensus that irreparable political damage had been done to Jeleva that has made her an inadmissible candidate.

Further to this, fears for her health have also caused concern to Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov who was quoted in the press this morning as saying that “I’m worried about the health of Rumiana Jeleva”…“I’m worried that extremely bad pressure on her having adverse affects on her health. This attack simply acts on all of us as it is planned and unjustified.”

The only viable option left for the ruling party of Bulgaria, GERB, was to make sure that her name is cleared of the allegations propagated by national political opponents, so that she could stay on as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Borisov is now expected to nominate a new candidate for the position of Commissioner, although certain quarters of the Party of European Socialists, and the Alliance of Liberals and democrats in Europe, are at the same time reconsidering a rejection of Jeleva in face of collateral damage in stronger Commissioner-designates.

Contenders for Jeleva’s spot

To highlight the endless possibilities of candidates to fill the position, one source affiliated with the Bulgarian government told NE that “anything is possible, except Meglena Kuneva”.

Defense Minister Nikolay Mladenov is one likely candidate for the position, whose solid track record and the fact that he is a member of GERB add to his appeal for Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. The only factor that may inhibit his nomination outside the fact that he heads-up an important ministry in Bulgaria already, is that from the EU side, a woman is expected to fill the position. Furthermore, a withdrawal of Jeleva and a drafting of Mladenov for the post would leave Borisov with upto two top ministries without leadership.

It is interesting to note that the European People’s Party does have a second Bulgarian nomination from EPP party member Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) in the face of MEP, and former Foreign Minister, Nadezhda Mihaylova.

Another possible candidate, who has the strong backing of the financial lobby in Bulgaria is Vice President of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva, however, according to our information from Washington DC, it is highly unlikely for her to accept such a nomination. Over the summer of 2009, various reports claimed that Kristalina Georgieva was going to quit her job at the WB in order to become a Deputy Prime Minister in the Bulgarian government of PM Boyko Borisov, a position that she reportedly refused.

Too much trouble for nothing?

Meanwhile, at the European level the Jeleva matter has caused absolute chaos in the European Parliament, with the EPP Group Chairman Joseph Daul calling for a public apology to Jeleva from ALDE Vice-President Antonyia Parvanova. Adding to this the spirited exchanges between Socialist leader Martin Schulz and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov raises doubts as to whether a new Commissioner-designate from Bulgaria will be enough to confirm the European Commission.

Pressure at home

Former Prime Minister of Bulgaria Ivan Kostov, Co-Chair of the Blue Coalition supporting GERB took a public stance against Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s Commissioner Designate Rumiana Jeleva on Sunday night.

Kostov said that Borisov should go ahead with his “Plan B”, and nominate another EU Commissioner-designate instead of Rumiana Jeleva.

Parliament legal service clears Jeleva

Sources inside the European Parliament have confirmed that the office of legal affairs has accepted Jeleva’s documentation as being truthful and accurate, finding no wrongdoing on her end.

This information, is essentially the final piece of the puzzle which clears Jeleva of wrong-doing, with the first being the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice and the second being a letter from Barroso issued in her support.

Last week’s battle in the European Parliament saw Jeleva literally being dragged through the mud by the Party of European Socialists and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe. Letter after letter was sent by the Parliament to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who after a Bulgarian Ministry of Justice document clearing Jeleva on legal grounds, reaffirmed his faith in Jeleva.

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