Bulgaria DefMin Urges Parliament to Revoke Intelligence Act Changes

Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev has called on MPs to backtrack on amendments proposed to the military intelligence act which the Bulgarian President returned for consideration.

The changes sought and approved by a majority of MPs would have made the current head of the Defense Information Service (Bulgaria's military intelligence agency) Yordan Bakalov unfit for the office.

Once proposed by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov as a suitable candidate amid a mass reshuffle in the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies, Bakalov is not a military official and that will force him to step down if the changes are finally passed.

President Rosen Plevneliev on Thursday vetoed the bill, but a sound majority can overcome under the country's Constitution.

Both Borisov and Nenchev had voiced their surprise at Parliament's move which involved many lawmakers from Borisov's own GERB party. The latter then called on the President to block the legislation.

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