LJUBLJANA/BRUSSELS: The Slovenian government named yesterday an entrepreneur and newly appointed minister, Violeta Bulc, as its candidate for a post in the new European Commission after its original nominee was rejected by the European Parliament.
The announcement gives Jean-Claude Juncker, President-elect of the incoming Commission, a chance to complete his team before a confirmation vote in the legislature scheduled for October 22.
However, a spokesman for Juncker said the timetable would still be “very tight” for the new EU executive to be fully in place for November 1, when it is due to take over from the Commission led by Jose Manuel Barroso.
Slovenia’s new prime minister, Miro Cerar, only brought Bulc, founder of a telecoms firm, into government last month as a deputy premier. Juncker will interview her early next week to decide which portfolio she might take.
Bulc, 50, will have little time to prepare for a parliamentary committee hearing for her new job and may well face resistance from some of the major parties.
Cerar’s predecessor, Alenka Bratusek, who nominated herself to Slovenia’s seat on the Commission after losing an election in July, had been assigned to be vice-president for energy union.
Reuters
