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

Prime Minister Glavchev: Currently there is no threat to the security of the country

At present, there is no information indicating a threat to the security of Bulgarian citizens. However, enhanced security measures have been taken in the country and security has been provided at strategic locations. This was announced after the end..

published on 10/2/24 7:20 PM

No reports of injured Bulgarians after the escalation of tensions in the Middle East

The Bulgarian foreign ministry is in constant contact with the Bulgarian embassies in Beirut, Tel Aviv and Tehran,  announced by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elena Shekerletova, at a briefing in the Council of Ministers. The..

published on 10/2/24 5:33 PM

Bulgaria to sign a security agreement with Ukraine

The Council of Ministers approved the signing of a Security Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine and Bulgaria's accession to the Ukraine Compact, presented during the NATO Summit in Washington in July. The Ukraine Compact was..

published on 10/2/24 5:31 PM