Bulgarian Scientist Tipped for Education Minister

The Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BAS, and its Scientific Secretary, Prof. Nikolay Miloshev, is the caretaker Education Minister.

The information was reported by the site OFFNews, citing insider sources, and revealing the names of nearly the entire caretaker government ahead of the official announcement.

Miloshev is also the Deputy Head of the BAS Institute for Geophysics and Geography and a top earthquake expert.

Bulgaria's Ambassador to France Marin Raykov is tipped as the most likely caretaker Prime Minister. Initially he has been offered a ministerial post, but during the negotiations it has been decided that he would lead the caretaker government.

Petya Parvanova will be appointed Interior Minister. She is now head of the Interior Ministry's Directorate "EU and International Cooperation."

Prof. Ivan Stankov, President of the Thracian University in the city of Stara Zagora would be Agriculture Minister.

Star actor, Vladimir Penev, who has one of the leading roles as "the good cop" in the popular TV series "Undercover," is going to be Culture Minister.

Christian Krastev is becoming Minister of Transport. He is one of the last appointments (January 16, 2013) in the outgoing Cabinet as a Deputy Transport Minister replacing Kamen Kichev, whose post remained vacant for over one year.

Krastev is a former CEO of Wizz Air Bulgaria. His wife was Governor of the Yambol Region and is currently Bulgarian Ambassador to Croatia.

Kalin Hristov, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, will take over the Finance Ministry.

OFFnews have not received a confirmation on the Sports Ministry where two names remain on the table – of marathon swimmer and champion, Petar Stoychev, and former Sports Minister Vassil Ivanov-Luchano.

There are two names for the Defense Ministry as well – Boyko Noev and Todor Tagarev.

Prof. Nikolay Petrov, Chief of the anesthesiology unit of the Military Medical Academy in Sofia is said to be selected as Health Minister.

On February 21, Bulgaria's Parliament approved the resignation of the government of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and his ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, amidst the unprecedented since 1997 protest rallies against the unbearable utility bills, the monopolies and the wide-spread poverty, which later turned into a civil unrest and political demands.

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

President, Rosen Plevneliev, is to name the caretaker government at 4 pm.

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