Tension Rises Over Nomination of Bulgaria’s New European Commissioner

• We must have a candidate, after a person was requested from the “Denkov” office
• The chairwoman is betting on full gender equality in the committee and probably expects 2, not one, applications
• “Change” is not part of any European political family

Daniel Laurer, whom “We continue the change” intend to nominate for the post of European Commissioner, creates tension between the partners in the “Denkov” cabinet PP-DB and GERB. And the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, may be an arbitrator in the dispute.

There had been lobbying for the former innovation minister even before the Government Information Service announced on Thursday evening that the cabinet was to nominate a new commissioner to replace Maria Gabriel, who left the EC to take up the deputy prime minister’s post here, and in nine months’ time, the prime minister’s .

Initially, it was expected that the chairwoman would not request a new commissioner from Sofia, as the mandate of the commission expires next year. Von der Leyen, however, informed Prime Minister Denkov in a telephone conversation that they still expect a nomination, the cabinet’s press service explained.

Formally, the candidate is nominated by the government. The PP intended to take advantage of it being on their mandate and propose Daniel Laurer. GERB, however, are adamant that Gabriel’s successor must be named by them or

at least not a prominent party figure

Laurer was Minister of Innovations in Kiril Petkov’s cabinet and nominated again for the post in the first version of the “Denkov” cabinet, but fell out during the negotiations with GERB precisely as a prominent political figure and a member of the leadership of “Promyanata”. He is among the leading figures in it alongside Petkov, Asen Vasilev and Denkov.

And another problem appears before his candidacy – Von der Leyen wants the Bulgarian European Commissioner to be a woman in order to preserve the balance in the commission. When it was created in 2019, the chairwoman

asked each country to broadcast two candidates – a man and a woman,

from which she can choose. The goal was full gender equality in the commission. There are currently 12 female commissioners.

Another obstacle to Laurer’s candidacy is that the PP is not part of any European political family. And the appointment of a commissioner requires the support of both the MEPs and the European Council. Unanimity is needed in the council, and there is a possibility that one of the 8 prime ministers from the EPP will take the side of the GERB if Laurer reaches this stage.

According to sources from Brussels, Ursula von der Leyen will expect Sofia to give her not one, but two names. This was a common practice when there is a serious upheaval in a country, as Bulgaria has been going through in the last two years.

Maria Gabriel’s portfolios were allocated to EC Vice-Presidents Margrethe Vestager (she took over innovation and research) and Margaritis Schinas (for education, culture and youth). Because of this

our new European Commissioner can hardly hope for these portfolios again

For now, it is not clear whether Academician Denkov will negotiate with GERB about who the new commissioner will be. The initial agreement between PP-DB and GERB provides that all appointments to the executive branch will be agreed upon. But the appointment of a European Commissioner is within the powers of the government itself.

Meanwhile, BSP MEP Tsvetelina Penkova suggests that the next Bulgarian commissioner could even take over the “Energy” department if it is expanded. However, the department will be assigned only after the approval of the candidate. Upon Bulgaria’s entry into the EU, a new one was even created for Meglena Kuneva – “Consumer Protection”, as she joined the EC in the middle of the mandate.