US, UK 'Could Possibly' Nominate Bulgaria's Georgieva to UN Top Job - Sunday Times

Seeking to counter Irina Bokova, the Bulgarian government's official candidacy for UN chief, Washington and Berlin might nominate "possibly even another Bulgarian", the Sunday Times has opined.

In a February 14 article, it has noted that "a battle" is expected among permanent UN Security Council members as Bokova, the current UNESCO head, is "a favourite of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and former member of the Bulgarian Communist Party" but has also "emerged as a leading contender" to take over from Ban Ki-moon next year.

"If the Bulgarian Prime Minister wants a Bulgarian woman to be the next UN secretary-general then he's picked the wrong one," a "Western Security Council member" diplomat is quoted as saying.

Kristalina Georgieva, whom the Sunday Times is referring to as "another Bulgarian", is the European Commission Vice President for Budget and Human Resources. She had never publicly declared she was intending to run, but a number of politicians in Sofia and elsewhere suggested it should be her, and not Bokova, to get the nomination.

Bulgarian's Foreign Ministry, however, announced last week it had submitted the candidacy of Bokova.

The latter is said to have angered Washington with UNESCO's move to grante Palestine recognition as a state.

You can read the article here.