President Radev announced his reasons for vetoing F-16 fighter jets contract

Parliament’s Defence Committee on July 24 overturned the President's veto on the law for the ratification of the contracts for the acquisition of the US-made F-16 fighter aircrafts. The veto was rejected by 13 votes in favour and seven against. GERB, MRF and IMRO rejected the veto, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and Volya supported it. President Rumen Radev announced the reasons for vetoing the law.

He said that the Parliament had adopted a decision without respecting the interests of the Bulgarian citizens and the Bulgarian state and asked what guarantees the country would receive for the aircrafts, whether they would be delivered in full set with the equipment to make them multifunctional and when the necessary infrastructure would be built.

Earlier, two-hour debates were held in the Defence Committee and the opposition reiterated its arguments against the US fighter jet deal.

However, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov and Air Force Commander, Major General Tsanko Stoykov have assured that the aircrafts will be able to protect the Bulgarian airspace and, if necessary, to participate in additional missions.