Bulgaria’s current ambassador in Germany, Meglena Plougchieva, will be appointed deputy prime minister without portfolio. She will supervise and control the spending of European Union funds. The post of a deputy prime minister without portfolio was suggested by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev on April 11 2008 as his response to criticism of Bulgaria’s lack of transparency and alleged corruption in absorbing EU funds. Prior to her appointment to Germany, Plougchieva was deputy minister of agriculture in the NMSP cabinet (2001/05). After becoming an ambassador, she left the Bulgarian Socialist Party. She is considered close to President Georgi Purvanov.