Nov 10, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
After a stormy dispute, the Bulgarian Parliament on November 9 gave the
cabinet a permission to enter into a contract with the US government to buy
Stryker armoured vehicles for the army.
“Vazrazhdane” were outraged that for the same money the army could buy modern French Dexter or German Boxer fighting machines.
"This decision is criminal. "Vazrazhdane" will not support
it. We will make sure that whoever signed it will one day bear criminal
responsibility and serve his sentence for this crime in prison," said
Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of "Vazrazhdane".
The chair of the defence committee, Hristo Gadzhev, explained that the deal
was financially advantageous.
"540 million euros is for 150 machines, i.e. cheaper than all other
offers of companies. And for 195 machines it is 715 million euros, i.e. again
cheaper than other companies gave for 150 machines."
The left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party accused the defence minister that
instead of implementing the decision of the 44th Parliament, which had approved
a significantly lower price, he is now proposing to cancel the procurement and
directly negotiate with the US for machines at twice the price.
"I hope the resignation is in defence minister Tagarev's pocket and he
will tender it today after the end of this sitting, if he has not done so
earlier upon entering the Parliament. The most sensible thing to do is to
withdraw it and resign so that you can stop this national betrayal you are
committing, Mr Minister," said Borislav Gutsanov of BSP for Bulgaria.
Minister Tagarev accused the opposition of working against the interests of
the country. The dialogue in the chamber about the benefits and drawbacks went
on.
"This is a good decision and I am very sorry that there are MPs who
work against the interests of the army and against the interests of the
country," he said.
"As for what we are discussing now, whatever things are said from this
rostrum, it is clear that this Stryker model is an old model," said Toshko
Yordanov, chair of “There is Such a People” parliamentary group.
The defence minister disagreed and gave an example.
"The first combat vehicles of this type entered the US Army in
December 2017 and the US Army is currently purchasing such combat vehicles.
The chair of the defence committee urged lawmakers to have more faith in
the military who drew up the parameters of the order.
"I trust the commanders and their analysis that things are built
properly and meet the requirements for both planning and engine capacity,
because these are the choir , who will command them and their subordinates will
be on them and will not allow deviations from quality," said Hristo
Gadzhev of GERB-UDF, Chair of the Defense Committee.
With 134 votes in favour from GERB-UDF, We Continue the Change-Democratic
Bulgaria and the Movement for Rights and Feedoms (MRF), 55 against and two
abstentions, the Parliament approved the allocation of BGN 2.5 billion for the
purchase of combat vehicles. After the contract is drawn up, it must be further
approved by Congress and the Bulgarian Parliament, according to Bulgarian media.
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