European Commissioner for Innovation Mariya Gabriel is expected to be nominated as prime ministerial candidate in Bulgaria for the center-right GERB party on Wednesday, according to numerous Bulgarian media reports citing party sources.
GERB came first past the post in Bulgaria’s election last month but only claimed about 25 percent of the vote, meaning that party Chairman Boyko Borissov now has to cobble together a coalition. Many observers expect him to try to do so by bypassing reform-minded anti-corruption parties.
A European Commission spokesman had “no comment” on the reports.
Christian Oliver, Pieter Haeck, Suzanne Lynch and Lili Bayer contributed reporting.
