site.btaGERB Leader Borissov Responds to President Radev's Accusations Concerning F-16 Aircraft

Let the President come out and say that the F-16 Block 70 is not a good aircraft, and let the U.S. government and Lockheed Martin respond to him—I don't manufacture them, said GERB leader Boyko Borissov to journalists in Parliament, in response to comments made earlier on Friday by President Rumen Radev. Radev had stated that the current situation with the F-16 reflects the overall attitude of Borissov's administration toward defence issues.

Radev and Borissov have exchanged accusations over a technical issue in one of the newly delivered F-16 fighter jets that has been in the media spotlight since the end of April and heavily politicized.

"As for the F-16, remember that Valentin Radev was Defence Minister when [Rumen Radev] was Air Force chief, and they lobbied in front of me for the F-16. When he met [US President Donald] Trump in Paris, he said they were expecting the F-16. When he piloted the F-16, he said it was the best aircraft. I don’t understand—when is he being sincere?" Borissov commented. “At an intergovernmental meeting, I signed a contract with the U.S. government. A proven aircraft like the F-16 is already here,” he added.

“By the way, that circuit board for the plane—they sent it, and it arrived last night. Today it will be replaced,” Borissov said. According to him, it was President Radev who first told the journalists traveling with him that the F-16 was broken. “That’s where the whole thing started, and I responded—who’s the one politicizing it?” Borissov asked.

Borissov stated there is no tension between him and the head of State, though in his view the President is “very irritated by the topic of Botas.”

Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said last month in Parliament that Bulgaria pays Turkish company Botas for capacity which it cannot use. He was speaking during a hearing on agreements signed with the Turkish company, their impact on public supplier Bulgargaz, and the need to renegotiate their terms.

"Every day, 1.05 million [leva] are leaving, and that’s something he’s trying to shift public attention away from, because sooner or later, someone will come looking for accountability for the hundreds of millions heading to Turkiye daily. Just imagine someone hauling away that much money in bags every day," commented the GERB leader.

When asked why the presidential institution refuses to take responsibility for what he called an unfavorable deal with Botas (the Turkish energy company), Borissov responded that they only criticize and take no responsibility for anything.

Regarding the European People’s Party (EPP) Congress and President Radev’s claim that Borissov’s European political family had turned its back on him, the GERB leader responded: "It's not fitting for a president to attack women like that," apparently referring to Mariya Gabriel’s failure to be elected as EPP deputy chair.