Updates: Jeleva made no violation: Bulgarian Ministry of Justice report - EXCLUSIVE, Check-mate; Jeleva unsalvable; a commentary, Documents clear Jeleva of allegations 

 After continuing to endorse Jeleva’s candidacy pursuant to the European Commission Parliamentary hearings where Commissioner-designate Rumiana Jeleva took a political beating on Tuesday, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has now taken a step back saying that her rejection would not be a tragedy.

This morning, Borisov speaking in an interview for BNT said that “there is nothing tragic if a commissioner is not endorsed, it is tragic that the previous government failed to construct our highways.”

Borisov gave a national tone to the Jeleva issue, suggesting that the attack on Jeleva “started in Bulgaria from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, who have performed awfully in Europe.

Political analysts suggest that the attack on Jeleva has been in the cards since her nomination, and that she could have been better prepared for the hearing. Furthermore, Parliamentary members of the EPP were reportedly very few in the hearing of Jeleva, suggesting the EPP Group had not planned well enough; or that members did not want to come out in open support of Jeleva.

A final decision on Jeleva is expected before Monday. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has not made any statements on the Socialists request made by Socialist Parliamentary leader Martin Schulz for a new nominee for Bulgaria.