Defense Minister: President Has No Choice But to Listen to Me

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov (L) and Minister of Defense Anyu Angelov (R). Photos by BGNES.

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has no choice but to appoint the person proposed for head of the military intelligence, said Minister of Defense Anyu Angelov Tuesday.

Bulgaria’s President and Minister of Defense entered in an institutional row after the President refused to appoint Commodore Valentin Gagashev for head of Bulgaria’s military intelligence.

As of now the unit has no head after its former chief resigned and Parvanov refused to approve the appointment of Gagashev, proposed by the cabinet, on the grounds of an alleged failure on the part of the government to duly consult his opinion.

Senior military personnel in Bulgaria is appointed by the President at the proposal of the Council of Ministers.

Tuesday minister Angelov stated that President Parvanov “cannot infinitely delay the appointment of Commodore Gagashev,” and that he has no other option but to abide by the cabinet’s choice.

He added that should the President refuse to sign the appointment, that would be an unprecedented case.

Angelov admitted that if that is to transpire, then he might have to submit a new proposal, but said that he viewed that as an undue exceeding of the President’s legitimate authority and an infringement on the powers of the Minister of Defense.

Minister Angelov spoke in support of legislative amendments clearly delimiting the President's powers vis-a-vis the Minister of Defense.

He added that he suspects that President Parvanov has his own favored candidate for the position of head of the military intelligence. Angelov has repeatedly stated that he is unwilling to alter his choice for the position.

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