Bulgaria’s President vetoed provisions of the Penal Code amendments

Bulgaria’s Head of State, president Rumen Radev, returned the provisions of the Law Amending and Supplementing the Penal Code for new discussion in Pareliament. The law amends the rules in the Criminal Procedure Code. They provide for up to 48 hours delay of the notification upon detention of a person. Even more alarming is the possibility that parents of detained minors may not be informed about the detention of their child within a period of up to 24 hours. The Constitution requires from parents to look after their children until the age of majority and obliges the state to support them, says a press release from the President’s press office on 19^th of December.

The president supports efforts and measures in the fight against terrorism, organised crime and other forms of criminal activity as appropriate and justified, but does not agree with the legislator's approach. Without outlining the circle of individuals and the specific crimes for which notification may be postponed, there is an opportunity for disproportionate infringement of rights and there is a risk that the exception will become a rule.

Compliance with high standards of protection of citizens' fundamental rights is an indispensable guideline in the development of European legal systems.