MEP Radan Kanev, part of the Group of the European People's Party, has foreseen that Ursula von der Leyen will opt for a female candidate from Bulgaria to restore gender balance within the European Commission. The Council of Ministers has put forward Ekaterina Zaharieva from GERB-SDS and Julian Popov from PP-DB as potential candidates to represent Bulgaria at the European Commission. However, Kanev pointed out that the emphasis on meeting formal quota criteria might overshadow the candidates' professional qualifications and experience.
Kanev also expressed worry over the ongoing political crisis in Bulgaria, noting the absence of any visible solutions on the horizon. He highlighted a deep-seated institutional conflict within Bulgarian politics, attributing it to years of shadow dependencies prevailing over public political accountability. The situation paints a picture of decay within the political landscape of Bulgaria, with Kanev raising concerns about the harmful impact of longstanding structural issues on the country's governance and decision-making processes. The selection of Zaharieva and Popov as Bulgaria's potential candidates for the European Commissioner role comes amidst this backdrop of political turbulence and institutional challenges.