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

The first statue found at Heraclea Sintica probably depicts the grandson of Emperor Octavian Augustus

The first marble statue discovered in the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica on 3 July,  is probably of Lucius – grandson of Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus, announced Prof. Lyudmil Vagalinski who is in charge of the excavations...

published on 11/26/24 10:30 AM

Rumen Radev in Vietnam: Wise diplomacy can prevent war

President Rumen Radev, who is paying an official visit to Vietnam, delivered a lecture on the occasion of the 75 th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of..

published on 11/26/24 9:30 AM
(L to R) Atanas Atanasov, Kiril Petkov, Bozhidar Bozhanov, Nikolai Denkov from PP/DB

PP/DB: Boyko Borissov as PM is absolutely unacceptable

“We find the proposal of Boyko Borissov as premier of Bulgaria absolutely unacceptable, we are not going to be involved in any trading in positions.” This is the answer We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria (PP/DB) gave to the proposal by GERB..

published on 11/26/24 9:12 AM