Miho Mihov

Several lawmakers in Bulgaria are demanding that the Defense Minister comment on reports that the criteria for the acquisition of new multirole fighter aircraft have been altered.

ABV will announce its nomination for President on Thursday.

Former Social Minister in the second Borissov cabinet, Ivaylo Kalfin, has the greatest chance of being nominated. He was nominated for President by BSP back in 2011. Another possible candidate is ABV's parliamentary deputy - General Miho Mihov.

Spooked by fears of a sudden upsurge in migrant numbers in the spring, Bulgarian MPs have decided that soldiers will be allowed to help police protect the border against irregular migration.

All 156 MPs present at the plenary session on Thursday backed amendments to the Defence and Armed Forces Act, extending the competences of the army during peace time.

The Bulgarian Air Forces urgently need new multirole aircraft and a decision on the maintenance of currently available MiG-29s, the chair of Parliament's Defense Committee has said.

Parliament's Defense Committee is set to hold a joint meeting with military officials at the Graf Ignatievo military base, Southern Bulgaria, amid calls for urgent measures to address the needs of the country's Air Force.

The Defense Ministry's proposal to allow other NATO members to conduct air-policing missions jointly with the Bulgarian Air Force is not and act of giving up aviation, the head of Parliament's Defense Committee has said.

Poland has no license or documentation whatsoever to repair MiG aircraft, the head of the original equipment manufacturer has reportedly warned.

Pakistan is to make its own proposal to Bulgaria concerning the overhaul of its aircraft fleet, media reports suggest.

Currently the US, Italy and Sweden have been bidding to answer Bulgaria's need to have a squadron of 16 fighter jets replacing the existing one which is made up of Russian-made outdated MiGs.

Chairperson of Bulgaria's parliamentary Defence Committee Miho Mihov said on Sunday that the stationing of a NATO command centre in the country should not be interpreted as preparation for war.

Mihov also dismissed fears that this decision hinted of preparations by Russia for the waging of war on Bulgarian territory, airspace and naval space.

The problem with migration is Bulgaria is systemic, not sporadic, according to Gen Miho Mihov, Chair of the parliamentary defense committee and MP from the ABV Movement (Alternative for Bulgarian Revival).

In a Monday interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, Gen Mihov claimed that there was no enduring continuity in the country?s security and defense policy.