Marin Raykov, who was Bulgaria’s caretaker Prime Minister until the end of May, has been appointed the country’s Ambassador to Italy.

Raykov replaces Angel Cholakov as Bulgaria’s Ambassador in Rome.

The former caretaker PM had already announced that he would not return as Amabassador to France once his term in office is over.

Angel Cholakov will replace Raykov as Ambassador to France.

Raykov took over as caretaker PM after the center-right GERB government resigned amid massive protests in February.

Days before the end of his term at the end of May Marin Raykov announced that he will return to his diplomatic career and he is one of the eight new proposals for Ambassadors abroad tabled by the Council of Minister.

The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party reacted strongly to the news that Raykov would return to his career as Ambassador to a foreign country, ironically suggesting that he “appointed himself.”

However, Raykov was quick to brush aside the criticism.

“When I assumed office and 150 000 people were protesting on the streets, I did not declare that I would quit my professional path,” Raykov told reporters.

“It is my legal right to return to my profession.”

President Rosen Plevneliev also declared that he saw nothing wrong in letting Raykov continue his diplomatic career.