The co-chair of Bulgaria's nationalist Patriotic Front coalition has welcomed the actions of the "praiseworthy men" who carried out a foiled coup d'etat in Turkey.

"I am sure [they did it] out of purely patriotic grounds and out of their desire to bring Turkey back on the path of a secular state," he has argued on the breakfast show of private NOVA TV broadcaster.

Simeonov, who co-heads a coalition backing the government but with no ministers in it, has also warned: "I am afraid we will border Islamic State soon."

"I believe the work of life of [Mustafa Kemal] Atat?rk are already substituted, especially with this last step toward to do wipe out any opposition, things are becoming irreversible there in my opinion."

But he has admitted Sofia had no other options but to throw its support behind the democratically elected government and President.

Bulgarian politicians have largely condemned the attempted coup which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds and the arrests of thousands of people.

Simeonov has also urged medium and long-term "measures" that Bulgaria has to take even though there are no immediate risks facing the country in the southeast.

"We cannot rely on the whims of not quite a stable politician, in this case the President of Turkey... It is the most important thing now to get separated from this unstable state," he has opined, the latter claim being a reference to a fence along the border with Turkey that is to be completed by the end of the year.

Simeonov has also called for missile bases in Southern Bulgaria, with a range as far as Istanbul, to be reopened. "If Switzerland has such a resource, why Bulgaria shouldn't? We have to expect everything and everyone."

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