Dalli's departure from the Cabinet postponed

John Dalli's departure from the Cabinet was delayed by two weeks today after the European Parliament vote on the new European Commission was put off to February 9.

The Social Policy Minister had been expected to step down on January 29, setting in motion the process for a casual election.

The delay came about after Bulgaria replaced its controversial nominee for Commissioner.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Rumiana Jeleva, who had been her country's nominee, withdrew her candidacy amid concern that her presence could lead the European Parliament to reject the whole commission.

MEPs, particularly in the Socialist and Greens groups, had concerns over her competence and business ties.

Although the EU legislature cannot block individual candidates, it can reject the entire 27-member Commission, the body responsible for drafting and enforcing EU rules.

MEPs said a vote to approve the Commission, set for January 26, would be postponed until February 9 as a result of Jeleva's withdrawal, but the line-up is now more likely to be approved.

Jeleva's withdrawal is a blow to the reputation of the EU's poorest member state, which has faced strong pressure from Brussels to tackle corruption and organised crime since it joined the bloc in 2007.

The country has now nominated Kristalina Georgieva, a senior World Bank official with a long track record in aid in the developing world who is expected to be a strong candidate for the Commission.