Bulgarian Ombudsman Tabled as Caretaker PM

Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev, is conducting intensive negotiations with Ombudsman, Konstantin Penchev, for the latter's interim Prime Minister appointment.

The information was reported Friday by Standard daily, citing their sources from the Administration of the President.

Plevneliev sees Penchev as a decisive and responsible man, and a seasoned legislator, who is not from the circles of businessmen and politicians. He also enjoys the approval of political parties, the business and the protesting Bulgarians. The behind-closed-doors talks are to conclude by Sunday, according to the article.

Other names, still on the table, include Bulgaria's Ambassador to Switzerland and former Minister for the Management of EU Funds, Meglena Plugchieva, and the Member of the Board of Directors of the World Bank, Rumyana Kyuchukova.

Plevneliev, however, is said to be also negotiating with top economists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BAS, and from a number of colleges as well as with prominent political analysts.

The President says increasing income, the employment rate, and improving education would be the top priorities of the caretaker government.

The one certain thing is that Bulgarian EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva would not be appointed Prime Minister of Bulgaria's caretaker government, as Plevneliev himself already confirmed during his brief visit to Brussels.

He was there Wednesday for the official ceremony dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from Nazi concentration camps and to discuss the political crisis in Bulgaria with senior EU officials. The latter have voiced full trust in Plevneliev's decisions in forming the caretaker Cabinet.

The President informed in the aftermath that the EU firmly backs the effort to adhere to the Constitution and the rule of law in assuring he would appoint the interim government within the legal deadline. He explained he believed Bulgaria has enough experts who would assume responsibility in these difficult times for the country and do the job.

Plevneliev called on all to give them 100 days of support and to lead a positive election campaign.

The center-right government of Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov and his Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party resigned on February 20 amid protests against poverty and corruption.

Snap election is to be held May 12, just two months ahead of the regular date in July.

It was also reported on Wednesday that while on route to Brussels, Plevneliev has complained that all potential candidates for caretaker PM keep getting shot down by public criticism or decline the invitation.