President Rumen Radev stated he would not dismiss the head of the National Service for Protection, NSP, Emil Tonev. This statement comes after the cabinet urged him to do so yesterday over the handing of video recordings, made at the entrance to the Council of Ministers building, over to the Prosecutor’s Office without the knowledge of the prime minister.

• Cabinet demands dismissal of Chief of NSP Brigadier Gen. Emil Tonev
  

The President stated further that by law, the initiative for such personnel changes lies with the President, not the government. “They do not have the authority to propose anything to me, the motives are superficial and untenable,” Rumen Radev said.

Meanwhile, NSP head Emil Tonev made an official statement - that the National Service for Protection and its employees have always abided by the principle of depoliticization.

Rumen Radev stated further that he expects of the government to adhere to the parliamentary declaration regarding the Republic of North Macedonia, and that the outstanding issues between the two countries must be settled before the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations. He urged the prime minister’s foreign policy advisors not to classify the Bulgarian population in North Macedonia as a minority.

The Bulgarian President described his relations with Prime Minister Kiril Petkov as normal and constructive, and in the spirit of the law.