Bulgaria's foreign minister Rumiana Jeleva resigned today and withdrew her nomination for European Commissioner in an embarrassment to the European Union's newest and poorest member state.
Bulgaria's candidate for the EU Commission has withdrawn from the nomination process as a result of allegations about her personal and financial dealings.
Ms Jeleva had been nominated to become the new humanitarian commissioner in charge of EU's response to disasters such as Haiti.
Her withdrawal was signalled in a letter to Bulgarian prime minister Boiko Borisov who has stood by her. She also resigned as the country's foreign minister.
Ms Jeleva faced allegations of corruption involving her husband and also a claim by a Bulgarian MEP that she failed to declare a continuing interest in a Bulgarian firm Global Consult.
Ms Jeleva has denied all the allegations.
There was also a perception among some MEPs that she failed to impress in her confirmation hearing last week giving only generalised answers to detailed questions.
Her withdrawal is a blow to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso who backed her candidacy. It is now likely that the commission will not be confirmed by the proposed date of January 26th.
She had also been supported by the European People's Party (EPP), the largest grouping in the European Parliament.
Speaking in Strasbourg this morning, its president Joseph Daul said he understood her decision to stand down and she had been the victim of a "pathetic little political war"..
He said Ms Jeleva had been subject to "unjust and false attacks" for several weeks none of which had turned out to be true.
The Bulgarian government has nominated the World Bank's Kristalina Georgieva as a replacement candidate.