Deputy Ombudsman Candidate Filipova Faces Questions about Potential Appointment as Caretaker PM

Teodora Tsaneva, Yoana Hristova, Metodi Yordanov

Maria Filipova (BTA Photo/Blagoy Kirilov)

Sofia,

02.09.2025 19:29

(BTA)

"I don't understand politics, and I didn’t fully grasp parts of your remarks about majority and minority," said Maria Filipova, candidate for Deputy Ombudsman, during her hearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Direct Participation of Citizens, Citizens’ Complaints and Interaction with Civil Society. She was responding to a question from Manol Peykov (Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria) regarding media reports linking her to MRF-New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski and the possibility of her becoming a caretaker prime minister.

"I'm a long-time civil servant; I don’t understand politics," Filipova added.

The Deputy Ombudsman is among the senior public office holders from which the President may chose to appoint a caretaker prime minister.

Earlier, MP Manol Peykov commented that Filipova was avoiding the topic of whether she would accept the position of caretaker prime minister. “I'm trying hard to disregard the media reports linking you to Peevski, but anyone with a thinking mind tries to connect the dots,” he said. According to Peykov, the current government is a minority government, and "what holds it together is Mr. Peevski." He claimed that certain circles are currently looking for a suitable figure to serve as a caretaker prime minister. “When someone wants to move from a high-level managerial position to a mid-level one, you always ask yourself why,” he added, suggesting that the only logical explanation for Filipova’s nomination is that it places her in the list of officials from which the President can appoint a caretaker prime minister. According to the Constitution, the potential caretaker prime ministers are the Chairperson of the National Assembly, the Governor or Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of the National Audit Office, and the Ombudsman or their deputy.

In response to questions from MPs about whether she harbors ambitions to become caretaker prime minister, Filipova noted that “the Constitution says the President decides whom to invite from the list. Only when the President makes such a decision, [and] after a meeting, can you expect a real answer.”

Filipova, currently the Chair of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), said she does not see the position of Deputy Ombudsman as a demotion. “[National Ombudsman] Velislava Delcheva is the face of the institution. My role will be to support her,” she noted.

Later, speaking to journalists, Filipova was asked again whether she was ready to serve as caretaker Prime Minister. She replied: “At the moment, I am a candidate for Deputy Ombudsman.”

/MY/