Sergey Stanishev 'Cannot Be MEP and MP' at Same Time - Expert

Bulgarian socialists' leader Sergey Stanishev cannot become MEP for a brief period and return to national Parliament afterwards, prof. Ekaterina Mihaylova believes.

Mihaylova, a center-right leader in the early 2000s, former MP and presently Professor of Constitutional Law at the New Bulgarian University, said that going into the European Parliament, even if temporarily, would require of a Bulgarian lawmaker to leave office.

Speaking for the private channel NOVA TV, she explained that if one is sworn in as MEP without resigning as MP in the national Parliament, "a procedure of incompatibility" (between the two positions) might be launched.

Sergey Stanishev, who leads the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), topped the socialists' elections list at the May 25 European vote (even though he was "ousted" from that position after the vote). He has maintained he would not become MP but has only embarked on such a move to show commitment to the EU and to the electorate.

He nevertheless stated after his party's severe defeat at the European elections that he would serve as MEP until July 1 to raise the nomination of Martin Schulz as EU Commission President on March 18.

Stanishev, apart from heading BSP, is also the chairman of the Party of European Socialists (PES).

Ekaterina Mihaylova believes he does not need to be MEP to take part in the procedure supporting Schulz, but could also do this being PES leader.