The Bulgarian candidate for the post of European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Rumenia Jeleva, has withdrawn from the race.

Members of the European Parliament subjected her to harsh questioning last week after she had failed to mention her interests in an advisory firm. Centre-left MEPs were moreover unconvinced that the Christian-Democrat had the right experience for the humanitarian aid job.

Ms Jeleva has also tendered her resignation as Bulgarian foreign minister but this has been refused by the country's Prime Minister Boiko Borisov.

Bulgaria has now put forward Kristalina Georgieva as its new European Commission candidate. She is currently Vice President of the World Bank.

Rumania Jeleva (photo: Flickr / European Parliament)