A bomb blew up the car of a popular Bulgarian journalist late Thursday, October 13, in Sofia, coinciding with a visit of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and three members of the Commission to the Balkan country, police said.

Reuters reports that the explosion caused no casualties but the incident is the latest blow to the center-right government's efforts to put an end to the climate of impunity in one of the most corrupt EU member states ahead of local and presidential polls on October 23.

Television journalist Sasho Dikov, known for his critical attitude to the cabinet, said he had never received any threats.

"(I relate the blast) to individuals who think it can be a useful tool in the pre-election campaign," Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said.

In a joint news conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov Thursday, Barroso praised the government's work and said Sofia needed to continue the fight against crime and to press ahead with the reform of its judiciary system.