site.btaChief of Defence Applies for Discharge from Service

Chief of Defence Applies for Discharge from Service

Sofia, December 2 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Chief of Defence, General Konstantin Popov, Friday submitted an application for discharge from service by reason of acquiring entitlement to pension, the Defence Ministry said in a press release.

The application will be considered according to the statutory procedures, the Ministry specified.

Before taking office as Chief of Defence on February 9, 2016, Popov was Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force and for years was an immediate superior of President-elect Rumen Radev.

The Defence Ministry explained that the reasons for Popov's departure are related to this: he wished to leave the new head of State to choose on his own the Chief of Defence with whom he would work.

Popov's four-year term of office should have expired in 2020. On May 1, 2016, he was promoted to four-star general.

The President of the Republic, who is also Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is competent to pronounce on the discharge application.

Under the law, the Chief of Defence is appointed by a presidential decree on a nomination from the Government.

According to an unwritten rule, generals of the three armed services take turns as chiefs of defence. Now is the turn of the Land Forces.