site.btaCommittee for Oversight of Security Services Recommends Parliament Not to Re-adopt Controversial Amendments to Military Intelligence Act

Committee for Oversight of Security Services Recommends Parliament Not to Re-adopt Controversial Amendments to Military Intelligence Act


Sofia, October 20 (BTA) - The parliamentary Committee for Oversight of Security Services Tuesday recommended to Parliament not to pass again amendments to the Military Intelligence Act which introduced a requirement whereby the holder of the office of Defence Information Service Director be a high-ranking military officer on active duty, Committee Chairman Dimiter Lazarov told reporters.

On October 15 President Rosen Plevneliev vetoed the amendments and returned them to the National Assembly for further consideration.

When the amendments were put to the vote in the Committee for Oversight of Security Services, they were supported by six MPs, rejected by three while three other deputies abstained. The MPs of ABV and of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms took a stand in favour of re-adopting the provisions. The Defence Ministry meanwhile stated it supports the President's position for further consideration of the vetoed amendments.