Peevski 'Second' in DPS's EU Elections list

Bulgarian MP Deliyan Peevski, whose appointment as head of the national security agency sparked nationwide outrage, will reportedly be second in his Party's EU Elections list.

On Thursday, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), from which Peevski is a lawmaker, is to announce its final decision on the lists, but sources cited by the newspaper 24 Chasa and Dariknews suggest his position as number two is "almost certain".

Giving the solid electoral base of the DPS, which will have at least two or three MEP seats according to different polls, Peevski will almost certainly make it into the European Parliament if his place is confirmed.

As of Thursday, the MP has a total of 25 MEP nominations by local organizations of his party. Junior DPS's chairman Ilhan Kyuchuk has the biggest number of nominations, and Peevski is second, followed by and ongoing MEP Filiz Hyusmenova, Necmi Ali and Metin Kazak, who is also a MEP.

Party lawmakers earlier argued that Peevski was a very suitable candidate for the European Parliament, as he was "young, well-educated and successful".

The MP, who is regarded as highly controversial in Bulgaria, was appointed Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) on June 14 last year.

The move triggered mass protests demanding that the ruling coalition led by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), but with a strong DPS presence, resign.

Demonstrators accused the cabinet of "backdoor games" resulting in official favouring of "oligarch"-backed figures, which many believe Peevski ranks among.