Sega contends in a front-page headline that the Ministry of Defense is short of cash for new appointments while job contests are underway for 500 openings. According to an unnamed source the problem is that 6 million euro has been taken from the money for wages and has been spent on increased rations of the army and of civilian staff of the Ministry, as of early April. On 15 March, the minister of defense said that until then the Interior Ministry staff was being paid 120 leva (60 euro) a month for food, while army staff was being paid 90 leva (45 euro) but that the amounts would be equalized. Sega remarks that the financial problem arises at a time when the army has made a fresh attempt to recruit personnel for its emptying ranks and that its fighting capacity is at stake after the failure to recruit nearly 740 soldiers in 2016.
In the meantime, there have been personnel changes at top positions of the Ministry of Defense recently, as the caretaker administration term is running out, the newspaper explains. Former defense minister Todor Tagarev was released on Friday from his post as Director of the Bulgaria Defense Institute. Sources from the Defense Ministry report that Tagarev has been released over "replacement of tactical and technical assignments"in theprojects for purchasing a new type of fighter and armored vehicles for the Land Forces. The personnel change took place after Gerb, the party that won the snap elections, called on the caretaker government to end all political dismissals and appointments. It has also transpired that caretaker Defense Minister Stefan Yanev has appointed the head of his office Rumen Vasilev to act as permanent secretary of defense – the highest civil post at the Ministry of Defense. A few urgent job contests are reportedly underway at the Ministry for key positions, and the deadlines for their completion have been fixed ahead of the new government’s taking office. Finally, Sega recalls that Gerb has warned that all unscrupulous appointments made by the caretaker administration will be revised by the new government.
Compiled by Stoimen Pavlov
English Daniela Konstantinova
Bulgaria’s Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov described as fake news the reports about terrorist threats against Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from Bulgarian territory. ''Bulgaria contributes to the peace and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina by..
Due to the official recommendation of the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Bulgaria Air has canceled all flights to and from Israel until October 15, the national carrier announced on its website. The measure..
There has been no change in the security environment since Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area on March 31, caretaker Minister of Interior Atanas Ilkov said during a working meeting with the ambassadors of the EU member states, organized by..
Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov is leading the Bulgarian delegation at the 45th session of the Ministerial Conference of La..
Due to the official recommendation of the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Bulgaria Air has canceled all..
On Friday, lows will be between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius , 13°C in Sofia. Maximum temperatures will be between 26 and 31°C, 28° in the capital. During..
+359 2 9336 661