Bulgaria trims number of deputy ministers from 72 to 59

11:54 Fri 02 May 2008 - Elena Koinova

In the next step of the Cabinet reshuffle, Bulgaria's Government decided to trim the 72-member deputy ministerial staff to 59, Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told reporters after the May 1 Government meeting, as quoted by Dnevnik daily.

The PM noted that the decision aimed to improve efficiency and not the result of a negative assessment of any of the deputy ministers made redundant. It was also due to cut down administrative spending, he added.

The ministries to retain their entire top-tier staff are the finance, state administration, justice, foreign, culture and agriculture ministries, Stanishev said.

Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry will have three deputy ministers, with Sonya Yankoulova from the National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP) and Simeon Nikolov of the lead partner in the ruling coalition, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), both leaving their jobs. Yankoulova will take a deputy minister portfolio in the Interior Ministry.

The Interior Ministry will see one deputy minister office cut, meaning no one will replace Kamen Penkov (BSP), who resigned recently. Valeri Nikolov, also of BSP, leaves the Disaster Management Ministry, whereas Ekaterina Vitkova of the NMSP quit the Culture Ministry.

The regional development, as well as economy and energy, ministries cut two deputy ministers positions each – Milena Paunova (NMSP) and Savin Kovachev (BSP), and Yordan Dimov (BSP) and Luchezar Borissov (NMSP), respectively. Deputy Transport Minister Georgi Petarneichev (BSP) is leaving to take the Pazardjik regional governor seat.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), the third coalition partner, will lose just one deputy ministerial office. Yordan Dardov is leaving the Environment Ministry.

The Labour and Social Policy Ministry will have one deputy minister less, with Baki Hyusseinov (BSP) leaving. Deputy Health Minister Atanas Dodov (NMSP) was also handed the pink slip.

At its next meeting, the Government will consider who to appoint as regional governors in Varna, Pazardjik, Turgovishte and Dobrich, the Cabinet's press service said in a statement.