The proposed constitutional amendments were not adopted by Parliament at first reading

The constitutional amendments were not adopted on October 6 at first reading by the MPs, but this does not mean the end of the reform. It will just go more slowly.

As expected, GERB-UDF, We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) voted in favour of the changes. However, they got only 161 votes, while 180 votes are needed for constitutional changes. This vote, however, consolidated the constitutional majority.

After 8 hours of debate, the Parliament did not adopt the constitutional amendments at the first reading, as it did not collect 3/4 of the votes. But the amendment of the basic law was possible on the so-called slow track because more than 2/3 voted in favour. Those who tabled the amendments put emphasis on: the independence of the court and the efficiency of the prosecution as well. And they recalled that until recently Bulgaria was subject to three monitoring instruments - something unprecedented for the European Union. As for caretaker governments, they should not allow a presidential regime, the ruling said.

The opposition pointed out that there were 50 negative opinions on the changes from the professional guilds. They believe that some of the texts are within the competence of the Grand National Assembly and will fail in the Constitutional Court. They opposed the possibility of senior state positions being held by people with dual citizenship.

"The vote was 218, of which 161 voted in favour, 57 voted against, no one abstained. It did not gather the necessary 3/4 of the votes in order to pass at first reading and was not adopted. It did garner more than two-thirds, so the bill can be tabled again no sooner than two months from October 6 and no later than five months from the same date," said Rosen Zhelyazkov, Speaker of the National Assembly.

The main proposals in the bill include structural reform of the Supreme Judicial Council, reforming the Prosecutor’s office, the procedure for forming a caretaker cabinet, the way senior public officials and independent regulatory bodies are elected.