Commission controversy
January 19, 2010
Rumiana Jeleva, Bulgaria's EU commission nominee and her country's foreign minister, withdrew her candidacy on Tuesday after other Bulgarian politicians in the European Parliament questioned her competence and accused her of dubious business practices.
Jeleva had been nominated to the EU post in charge of humanitarian aid. At her confirmation hearing on January 12, she faced allegations that she concealed potential conflicts of interest when she was named to the European Parliament in 2007.
She was also accused of being "incompetent and unqualified" for the position of EU commissioner.
Jeleva also tendered her resignation as Bulgarian foreign minister.
"Please accept my resignation from all the posts that I currently hold and undertake the necessary action to withdraw my candidature for EU commission," Jeleva wrote in a resignation letter to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
However, Borisov refused to accept her resignation.
"I do not accept her resignation as foreign minister because I do not have any reasons to do that," Borisov told reporters in the capital Sofia, adding that he did accept her wish to withdraw candidacy for EU commissioner.
World Bank Official to replace Jeleva
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said that he accepts the nomination of a new candidate, top World Bank official Kristalina Georgieva.
The last-minute nomination comes on the final day of hearings for EU Commission candidates. Once all candidates have been named, the presidents of the various groups in the European Parliament will convene to discuss the candidates and hammer out differences.
Controversy surrounding the naming of Bulgaria's candidate for commissioner had caused fears that Barroso would be delayed in forming his commission.
The EU Commission is appointed every five years and has regulatory, legislative and policy-shaping powers in the 27-nation European Union.
glb/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Kyle James