Plamen Mladenovski officially heads the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission

The Parliament elected Plamen Mladenovski as Chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission. 138 deputies voted "for" the nomination of the GERB-SDS parliamentary group (from GERB-SDS, DPS-NN, BSP-OL, DPS-DPS, ITN), 60 were "against" (from "Vazrazhdane", MECH and "Velichie"), and 15 abstained (PP-DB). Thus, five years after the expiration of his mandate, Ivan Ivanov can safely retire

 The Parliament also elected two new members of the regulator - Tasko Ermenkov, nominated by BSP-OL, and Alexandra Bogoslovska - a candidate from "There is Such a People". These votes were cast without the votes of the DPS-DPS, which had earlier withdrawn their candidate for KEWR member.

Ermenkov will be responsible for the energy sector, and Bogoslovska for the water sector. The ITN candidate has been working in the state-owned Irrigation Systems since 2014.

Previously, the candidacy for KEWR chairman of Meglena Rusenova, nominated by the PP-DB, was also put to the vote. Only 29 deputies from the PP-DB voted "for" her. From "Vazrazhdane", DPS-NN, BSP-OL, ITN MECH and "Velichie" were "against", and the MPS-DPS abstained.

 The new chairman will take over the post in the energy regulator from 79-year-old Ivan Ivanov, whose mandate expired in 2020.

Former MP from the UDF, DSB and the "Blue Coalition" Ivanov was elected Chairman of the EWRC on April 2, 2015 for a five-year term. On February 9, 2022, the parliament, which established the "Petkov" cabinet, elected Stanislav Todorov as Chairman of the EWRC, but on July 21 of the same year, the Constitutional Court declared the election unconstitutional and Ivanov returned to the post, where he has remained until now.

 

Plamen Mladenovski has a higher education in finance from the UNWE, a master's degree in financial management. Since 2013, he has worked at the EWRC, initially holding expert positions, and subsequently managerial positions. From 2016 to the present, he has been Director of the "Electric Power and Heat Power" Directorate in the commission.

 Presentation of the candidates for chairman

 The candidacy of Meglena Rusenova, nominated by "Continuing the Change - Democratic Bulgaria", was presented by MP Radoslav Ribarski.

 According to him, Rusenova has extensive experience in the Energy sector and, as part of the establishment of the Electricity System Security Fund, she is a member of the Management Board representing producers of electricity from renewable sources.

 Plamen Mladenovski, nominated by GERB-SDF, was presented by Delyan Dobrev. He pointed out that the candidate is politically uncommitted, "enjoys an excellent professional reputation in energy circles, possesses high morals, knowledge and skills that are necessary for implementing the reform of the structure of the EU electricity market, the regulation of activities in energy and in water supply and sanitation".

 The debates

Passions in the hall quickly heated up, with the most serious disputes surrounding the BSP's candidacy for a member of the EWRC - Tasko Ermenkov.

PP-DB MP Venko Sabrutev noted that the EWRC is one of the most important regulators. "It is very important that the National Assembly goes into detail in the nominations. The National Assembly should not allow the election of people with a difficult history that could influence decisions". According to Sabrutev, the most colorful candidate for a member of the regulator was Tasko Ermenkov, who announced on Facebook that people in Sofia are drinking poisoned water from the Iskar River.

 "Can Ermenkov's candidacy coincide with the needs of this key body", the PP-DB MP also asked and asked how the other Euro-Atlantic parties would vote.

 Sabrutev's colleague - Ivaylo Mirchev, asked whether GERB was taking a step closer to Russia with a candidate like Tasko Ermenkov. Mirchev said that in 2014, Boyko Borisov declared Ermenkov a "liar" and addressed the GERB-SDF group - "are you really going to vote for Tasko Ermenkov?"

 Regarding Rusinova, Mirchev pointed out that he has known her for years and that "there are few people who have done more for the Bulgarian energy sector than she has."

 Toma Bikov reminded PP-DB that they were also in a coalition with BSP and Kornelia Ninova. "Ermenkov will not reverse Bulgaria's geopolitical course if elected," Bikov said.

 Previously, Pavela Mitova from ITN pointed out that "PP-DB have one single goal and that is to control the regulators and this is the reason why they do not support the voting for regulators, they leave the hall when regulators need to be voted for."

Mitova asked who dictates all the decisions of PP-DB. Bozhidar Bozhanov from PP-DB refuted Mitova's claims.

According to Iskra Mihaylova from "Vazrazhdane", Plamen Mladenovski, whom she previously expressed expectation of heading the EWRC, is a candidate of GERB and "DPS-New Beginning".