Economy and Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov prolonged his unpaid leave until June 2 2007.

Ovcharov was forced to take a vacation because of his alleged involvement in a corruption controversy, mediapool.bg reported.

The leave ended on May 28 2007. Before the deadline, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said he would decide whether to prolong Ovcharov’s leave.

The vacation and its prolongation are related to the investigation of the corruption controversy. The investigation is still unfinished despite the promises of Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev of fast results.

It was possible for Ovcharov to be dismissed since Cabinet changes are to be expected after Bulgaria’s members of European Parliament (MEP) elections.

MEP electoral results could trigger ministerial dismissals. Rightist party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria won the elections, leaving ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party and Movement for Rights and Freedoms behind. The third ruling party, National Movement Simeon II, ranked fifth.

Still, Stanishev said that BSP did not suffer defeat. Cabinet changes have not been announced yet.