Yordan Bakalov

Parliament in Bulgaria defied on Thursday President Rosen Plevneliev's veto on legislative changes that ban civilians from heading the country's military intelligence agency.

The bill was then re-voted and passed by an overwhelming majority of 159-15, two abstaining.

Members of the parliamentary committee for oversight of the security services backed on Tuesday the recent veto imposed by Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev on the controversial amendments to the Military Intelligence Act.

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.

Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev has vetoed a legislative change that bans civilian officials from heading the country's military intelligence service.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev will veto the recent amendments to the Military Intelligence Act.

This was announced by the chief of the presidential cabinet, Ekaterina Zaharieva, in an interview for private bTV station on Wednesday.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov expressed on Monday his support for the director of the Defence Information Service - Yordan Bakalov.

Bakalov has reportedly submitted his resignation after the parliament approved amendments to the Military Intelligence Act last week which introduced new requirements for the holder of the position.

The director of Bulgaria's Defence Information Service, Yordan Bakalov, has reportedly submitted his resignation.

According to 24 Chasa daily, after his return from a meeting with his NATO colleagues on Friday, Bakalov informed Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev of his decision to resign.

Bulgaria's Parliament on Thursday adopted a legislative change that will force the current civilian head of the military intelligence service, Yordan Bakalov, to step aside once they go into force.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev announced on Tuesday he has appointed Yordan Bakalov, a former interim Interior Minister, as head of the Defense Information Service.

Yordan Bakalov, who has also been an MP in several Bulgarian legislatures throughout the years, has "exceptional" moral qualities and is well-prepared to do the job, the minister has said.

Yordan Bakalov, former MP of the right-wing Union of Democratic Forces and former caretaker Interior Minister, will be appointed head of the Defense Information Service unit, according to Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev.

During a visit to Mongolia Nenchev told journalists that Bakalov's nomination would be approved by the government next week, according to reports of Sega daily.