Potential Nominees for Bulgaria's Caretaker Prime Minister

Following the collective resignation of the center-right GERB government, the big question in Bulgaria is who will be appointed caretaker Prime Minister.

The caretaker Prime Minister, who is to be appointed by President Rosen Plevneliev, will be a decisive figure over the next two months because the person will be in charge of holding fair and peaceful elections.

After announcing the collective resignation of the Cabinet on Wednesday, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov made clear that center-right party GERB would not take part in a caretaker government.

Meanwhile, the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) said that they would not take advantage of their constitutional right to form a government in order to not delay the elections.

According to reports of 24 Hours daily, Finance Minister Simeon Djankov is very likely to be appointed caretaker Prime Minister because maintaining financial stability will be of crucial importance.

Djankov has refused to comment but sources close to him have adamantly rejected the rumors.

Former Finance Minister and BSP MP Plamen Oresharski has also rejected claims that he would be appointed caretaker Prime Minister.

Menda Stoyanova, GERB MP, Deputy Chair of Parliament, and head of the Parliamentary Budget Committee, has also rejected being a candidate for the post, although she was cited by Borisov as an appropriate candidate on Saturday.

Financial expert Emil Harsev has suggested Simeon Djankov or Ivan Iskrov, Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), which Iskrov has rejected.

Levon Hampartsoumian, Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit Bulbank, has said he has not been offered the post and would not accept because he has a busy schedule.

Tsvetelin Yovchev, head of the President's Office and former Director of the State Agency for National Security (DANS), has also adamantly rejected claims that he would be appointed caretaker Prime Minister.

Other rumors cite newly appointed Education Minister Stefan Vodenicharov and Kamen Veselinov, President of the Technical University of Sofia, but Vodenicharov has rejected the allegations.

Yane Yanev, leader of the marginal conservative Order, Law, and Justice party (RZS), who has also been cited as an option, has responded to invitations to comment on the matter with "Why not?"

Another option is Reneta Indzhova, head of the National Social Security Institute.

On Thursday, Bulgaria's Parliament is holding a debate and vote on the surprise resignation of the cabinet of PM Boyko Borisov, amid massive protests triggered by economic stagnation.

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