site.btaPatriotic Front Dismisses as "Unfounded"Defence Minister's Estimates ofConscription Costs, Pool, Period

Patriotic Front Dismisses as "Unfounded" Defence Minister's Estimates of Conscription Costs, Pool, Period

Sofia, July 12 (BTA) - The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) Tuesday issued a press release, reacting to expert estimates presented by Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev in connection with two bills tabled by the Patriotic Front Parliamentary Group (composed of IMRO and the National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria) last Thursday, intended to reintroduce conscription, which was abolished in Bulgaria in 2008.

In an analysis of his Ministry, submitted to the parliamentary Defence Committee, Nenchev said that the monthly upkeep of a conscript would cost some 2,235 leva, considerably more than the 1,396 leva spent per professional soldier.

According to IMRO, Nenchev's conclusion that "a conscript costs more than a professional soldier" is unfounded.

"The sum cited for a professional soldier's monthly upkeep is 1,396.77 leva, which covers the salary and social security. The annual upkeep of a conscript is 9,317 leva, which makes 776.42 leva monthly, including a minimum wage of 420 leva," the Patriotic Front argues. It specifies that 2,235 leva monthly per conscript would be the overall maintenance, including, in addition to the 776.42 leva above, also the costs of logistics and combat training. "Such expenditures are mandatory for professional soldiers, too, and they cover construction and maintenance of buildings for the service persons' families' lodgings, kindergartens for their children, training, etc.," IMRO's press release says.

In their estimates, between 10,000 and 15,000 secondary-school leavers would be subject to compulsory military service annually. If conscripted for six months, their number would be between 5,000 and 8,000. By March 1, 2016, the Bulgarian Armed Forces was undermanned by 5,100 persons, which means that conscription would practically fill up the numerical strength of the professional army.

Regarding the argument that six months are insufficient for training, IMRO points out that conscription in a number of European armies is less than a year.

As to Nenchev's assertions that, in order to reintroduce conscription, the people up to a certain age who have never served: 276,000 men and women aged under 35, should be conscripted as well, IMRO says that this number is unfounded because conscription would apply to men only. Those who have never served and are aged between 28 and 32 would have an option to serve as volunteers for six months. The proposed amendments also envisage voluntary service for women, which guarantees gender equality.