Bulgaria has planned to buy eight new fighter aircrafts at a total cost of 1,500 million leva under the Air Force modernisation project.
Three bids were submitted for new Gripens from Sweden's Saab, for used Eurofighter Typhoons from Italy and for used US-made F-16s to be purchased from Portugal.
An expert working group has recommended the Swedish offer, and President Rumen Radev, a former Air Force Commander, has backed this option, too.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov expressed reservations, and then told his Swedish counterpart the government intends to go ahead with negotiating a deal with Gripen.
His party GERB said they wanted a parliamentary committee of inquiry to probe the selection of the Gripens and make sure there was no corruption or pressure involved.
Political analysis by Plamen Asenov.
