The National Assembly has rejected the veto imposed by President Rumen Radev on amendments to the Military Intelligence Act. In August the Bulgarian President vetoed the act because it allows for a civilian to head the Defence Information Service as an alternative to the explicit requirement, valid until now, that it can only be headed by a military officer.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) for Bulgaria supported the President stating its concern that this was being done for a concrete individual, and that it carries the risk of the political capture of the Defence Information Service.

The “United Patriots” voted against, and criticized the head of state for having become “record-holder” in employing his constitutional right to impose vetoes.

GERB party argued that the amendments envisaged do not stipulate whether the Defence Information Service head should be a military officer or a civilian, but merely extend the scope of competence of the three bodies which make the nomination.