“If we do not introduce conscription in the coming years circumstances will force us to do so because of the demographic factor,” Boris Vangelov, deputy chair of the parliamentary defence committee said for BNR.

VMRO’s idea of voluntary military service was approved by parliament at first reading with the amendments to the Armed Forces Reserves Act. In the words of Boris Vangelov the eradication of conscription after the democratic changes in the country cut off the source of reserve personnel.

“There will come a point when the armed forces, for purely biological reasons, will have been bled dry of people registered in the army, that is why completion of wartime formations is what has made these changes necessary,” Boris Vangelov said.

He allowed for the possibility of parliament’s failure to approve the bill at second reading, as the National Assembly is nearing the end of its term.