Bulgaria's PM Names Bokova as Only Nomination for UN Chief 'by Sept 26'

UNESCO head Irina Bokova is Bulgaria's single UN Secretary General candidate, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said.

However, he has added the government may only continue backing her candidacy if on September 26 she is not "among the first two candidates".

Borisov has made the comment before an extraordinary cabinet session that reports have linked to a possible change in Bulgaria's nomination.

His words come against the backdrop of suggestions that Sofia might seek to nominate Kristalina Georgieva, one of the EU Commission's Vice Presidents, instead.

Recent developments around Bulgaria's nomination have sparked tensions between Berlin and Moscow, with the latter arguing German Chancellor Angela Merkel had tried to talk Russian President Vladimir Putin about the possibility to back a new candidate from Bulgaria.

While some sources had suggested that the nomination might be "replaced" at the Tuesday cabinet meeting, others had argued it was possible for Bulgaria to raise two candidates at the same time.

Borisov, however, claims "no other candidates" have been discussed, and Georgieva's name "was not on the agenda at all".

Bulgaria nominated Bokova in February, but some domestic and international media outlets went on describing Georgieva as a possible "late entry" into the race.

At the same time, Borisov has hurled criticism at Bokova for not having attended the ministerial meeting.

"I invited Ms Bokova to come today [Tuesday], but she told me she had more important work to do at UNESCO."

"That did not leave me with a good impression, since when you are a UN Secretary General candidate and a government nominated you, I wanted to tell it in her presence."