Ombudsman Rejects Idea of Serving as Caretaker Prime Minister 2026

Balgarianovinite.com Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva argued on Sunday that the public defender and her/his deputy should be removed from the constitutionally established pool of senior public officials eligible to become prime minister in a possible caretaker government. Delcheva holds that the very change of position from ombudsman or deputy ombudsman to caretaker prime minister represents a conflict.
Interviewed by bTV, Delcheva said that the institution of the ombudsman must remain independent from the other branches of government, as stipulated both in the Constitution and in the Ombudsman Act. She also noted that the UN committee which accredits human rights institutions has recommended to Bulgaria that the ombudsman should not form part of the executive branch.
According to Delcheva, if the ombudsman were to accept the role of caretaker prime minister, it could undermine the reputation of the institution itself. “You can imagine how an ombudsman, whose role is to protect citizens’ rights when the government has failed to do its duty, could, for a few months, become the government, and then return to defending citizens against the government’s action or inaction,” she commented.
Delcheva also noted that President Rumen Radev, who is to pick the prime minister for an expected caretaker government this year, has not contacted her for a meeting on the matter. She added that she will attend discussions if invited. “And I will explain once again my position on why the ombudsman should not be an interim prime minister,” Delcheva said. Asked about constitutional changes, she said it is clear to everyone that Article 99 creates problems, as many potential candidates, for one reason or another, do not wish to become caretaker prime minister.
Regarding Bulgaria’s currency change following the country’s accession to the euro area on January 1, the ombudsman expects banks to resolve issues related to exchanging leva for euro. Delcheva also mentioned that citizens have reported to her institution the rising cost of food in school canteens, for which she has sent an inquiry to Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev. Ombudsman Rejects Idea of Serving as Caretaker Prime Minister 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-01-11 20:35:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law