Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

National Assembly fails to adopt amendments to the Constitution at first reading

Photo: BGNES-archive

The proposed amendments to Bulgaria’s Constitution failed to get enough votes at first reading. 161 MPs voted in favour. In order to change the Constitution, 180 votes are needed. "The amendments were not adopted, but since more than 160 MPs voted in favour, a first reading vote can be held once more, no earlier than two months from today", National Assembly Speaker Rosen Zhelyazkov said.

The proposed changes were submitted by GERB-SDS, We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. They envisaged a structural reform of the Supreme Judicial Council. According to the proposed amendments, the caretaker Premier shall be appointed amongst the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Constitutional Court or the Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank. There was also a proposal to change Bulgaria’s national day from March 3 (on this date in 1878, the Peace Treaty of San Stefano was signed, which put an end to the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878 and marked the re-establishment of Bulgaria as a sovereign state) to May 24- the Day of the Bulgarian language, education and culture, and of the Cyrillic alphabet. According to the proposed amendments, people with dual citizenship could also be elected as MPs and ministers. The Bulgarian Socialist Party, "There is Such a People" and "Vazrazhdane" strongly criticized the proposed changes. According to them, they will not solve the problems in the judicial system. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Sub-zero morning temperatures and cool sunny weather during the day

On Tuesday , the lowest temperatures will be between minus 3° and 2°C, in Sofia - around minus 1°C. During the day it will be sunny, with light to moderate easterly wind. The highest temperatures will reach 10° to 15°C; in Sofia -..

published on 11/4/24 6:50 PM

Minister of Innovation: There was video surveillance in more than 99.5% of the polling stations

Over 99.5% of Bulgaria's polling stations were covered by video surveillance in the October 27 parliamentary elections. This was stated at a briefing by the Caretaker Minister of Innovation and Growth Rosen Karadimov, appointed by the caretaker..

published on 11/4/24 6:05 PM

17 drifting mines have been destroyed in the Black Sea since the beginning of the war in Ukraine

17 drifting mines have been discovered and destroyed in the Black Sea by the Naval Forces of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey since the beginning of the war in Ukraine until today. This was said by Fleet Admiral Velko Velkov at the opening of the Poseidon..

published on 11/4/24 5:45 PM