Bulgaria’s President, Georgi Parvanov, issued a decree Tuesday, appointing General-Major, Stefan Vasilev as Commander of the Land Forces, but delayed his decision on the new director of the country’s military intelligence.

The move did not come as surprise, following the controversy with the GERB cabinet’s nominee for the post - Commodore Valentin Gagashev. Parvanov voiced dissatisfaction with the nomination, saying the procedure for preliminary agreement on the candidate has not been properly followed, entering in a heated, indirect debate with Defense Minister, Anyu Angelov.

The Tuesday issue of the State Gazette published a decree to release Gen. Plamen Studenkov, beginning September 1 from the post of Director of Military Intelligence, but not for his successor’s appointment.

Under the Bulgarian Constitution, the Head of State appoints the military intelligence director. He does not have to accept the cabinet’s nomination and there is no precise deadline for the appointment.

Gen. Detelin Mazhgurov will be temporarily in charge. Parvanov said previously that one of the military intelligence deputies is most suitable for the post, but did not mention a name, only stating the individual in question is a great intelligence officer with plenty of experience in difficult missions. In a newspaper interview, the President further pointed out Gagashev was also well qualified, but would better fit as a deputy in the Joint Operational Command.

Vasilev becomes Commander of the Land Forces over the retirement of his predecessor, General-Lieutenant, Ivan Dobrev.