Euro-MPs lash Bulgarian PM in Commissioner row

(BRUSSELS) - European lawmakers lashed out Thursday at Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov for wading into an assembly debate on the suitability of his foreign minister to become an EU commissioner.

"The former bodyguard of the former communist dictator of Bulgaria has no right to attack us in such a way," Martin Schulz, the head of the second biggest bloc in the parliament, the socialists, said in a statement.

Foreign minister Rumiana "Jeleva is an element of Borisov's strategy to put his style of attacking everybody who disagrees with him as a communist or whatever," he said.

"Ms Jeleva and her incompetence are what represent the Borisov government."

In hearings in Brussels to see whether she is fit to become new EU humanitarian aid commissioner, Jeleva had to fend off allegations that her list of financial interests was incomplete and that her husband has mafia links.

Lawmakers grilled Jeleva for failing to mention in her declaration of financial interests that she was a manager and owner of the private consultation company Global Consult from 2001 until April 2009.

They also enquired about reports in the Bulgarian press which claimed to expose her husband's alleged links to a powerful yet rather controversial business group in the Black Sea city of Burgas.

Jeleva played down the accusations.

On Thursday, Borisov told state television that he would wait for a ruling by the EU parliament juridical service on a possible conflict of interest in Jeleva's case, before making any decision.

Asked whether he was wrong to nominate her, he said: "I did not make a mistake."

But confirmed he had other options for commissioner if Jeleva is rejected.

The parliament votes on January 26 whether to endorse the new European Commission under President Jose Manuel Barroso for a five-year term. It cannot reject individual commissioners but can pressure nations to change their nominee.

The head of the liberals group in the assembly, Guy Verhofstadt, also rejected Borisov's statements, saying that the lawmakers were only doing their jobs.

"The European Parliament would be doing a disservice to those who elected them if we failed to take our responsibilities seriously," he said.

"It is both the right and the duty of MEPs to raise any concerns now in order to clarify matters and clear up misunderstandings than brush them under the carpet and risk them creating difficulties at a later stage once the Commission is approved."

Jeleva retains the backing of the conservative grouping, the largest in the assembly, and her supporters have even threatened to block the socialist candidate for another commission portfolio as a tit-for-tat response.