Bulgaria announces cabinet changes

22/04/2008

SOFIA, Bulgaria -- There will be five new members of the cabinet, ruling coalition officials confirmed after a meeting on Tuesday (April 22nd). Mihail Mikov replaces Rumen Petkov as interior minister; Evgeni Zhelev takes over the health ministry from Radoslav Gaydarski; Nikolay Tsonev replaces Veselin Bliznakov as defence minister; and Valeri Tsvetanov replaces Nihat Kabil as agriculture minister. A new position is being added as well -- Meglena Plugchieva will serve as deputy prime minister without portfolio, responsible for EU funding. The changes require parliamentary approval. (BTA, BGNES, Dnevnik, Sega, Trud, 24 Chasa, Dnevnik - 22/04/08)