IN: A strong party figure, law graduate Mihail Mikov has been a Member of Parliament for the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) since 1997. His biggest success within the party hierarchy so far was his appointment, prior to his ministerial nomination, as BSP floor leader in Parliament. He was the personal choice of BSP leader Sergei Stanishev in 2005 to be floor leader when Stanishev became Prime Minister. Mikov enjoys close ties with President Georgi Purvanov from the days when Purvanov was BSP leader and Mikov was his deputy in Parliament. Mikov’s first words after his nomination was announced were that it was not solely up to him for the reform within the ministry to produce results.

OUT: Roumen Petkov is one of the most popular faces of Bulgarian Socialist Party. Media reports often refer to him as “the strong man” within the party and the person in charge of BSP funding. As interior minister, he made a name for himself for his forthright comments that often could also be described as insults. His favourite response to criticism was to cite long and detailed statistics about the work of the ministry. He resigned after he admitted he had held meetings with people who were under police investigation. After the Cabinet changes were announced, it was rumoured that Petkov would replace Mikov as BSP parliamentary group leader.