(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Bulgarian prosecutors have charged the country's interim health minister with misuse of power for threatening the head of a state health agency because she would not hire his protege, Reuters said. Ilko Semerdzhilev, who is also Bulgaria's interim deputy prime minister, threatened to sack the executive director of the country's drug agency for refusing the favoured candidate, citing potential conflict of interest, prosecutors affirmed.

The interim government was appointed by President Rumen Radev in late January and will stay in office until a new government is formed following snap elections held on March 26.

Last year, prosecutors charged former health minister and three former energy ministers over mismanagement. Their cases have yet to come to a court and all have denied wrongdoing, Reuters said. (ANSA).