Parliament set up an ad-hoc committee to discuss changes to Bulgaria's Constitution

Parliament on February 3 set up a ad-hoc committee to discuss changes to Bulgaria's constitution. It will work for 6 months. The ruling coalition and the opposition clashed on the need and activities of the committee.

The majority offered a debate, convinced that judicial reform includes changes to the Constitution. Movement of Rights and Freedoms and Vazrazhdane are against the ad-hoc committee and did not nominate representatives in it.

The opposition GERB set a condition for support: To get the chairmanship of the committee or to have co-chairs - from GERB and "We Continue the Change". Some of the ruling majority described this demand as twisting of arms and rejected it. GERB also refused to participate in the committee. Hristo Ivanov of “Democratic Bulgaria” was elected chairman.

"The only way is to have a judicial system that administers real justice. Bulgaria pays a high price because we are among the most corrupt countries in the European Union. The time to debate on this topic came many years ago," said Hristo Ivanov, chairman of the PG of "Democratic Bulgaria".

"This debate is necessary in the society, because the low trust in the judicial system makes it necessary. We expect a constructive committee and an expert debate," added Filip Popov, MP from the PG of BSP.

"You have witnessed that we presented to all groups our ideas for a change in the Constitution - part of the judicial reform. Only “Democratic Bulgaria”, when our associates asked for them, refused to see us, but we gave them our ideas. Many politicians are referring to a change of persons, not reforms. We assigned the topic to experts to prepare a draft so that the field of Grand National Assembly is not affected. Our ideas are open to editions. As regards the Supreme Judicial council, the suggestion is that it is split into two councils – one of judges and one of prosecutors, each consisting of 13 members. Those elected by the National Assembly, will be elected by a two-thirds majority. We have a proposal as regards the issue with the individual constitutional complaint. Our draft proposes the members of the Constitutional Court to be elected with a two-thirds majority. Because of the issue with the dual citizenship of PM Kiril Petkov - we envisage the restriction on dual citizenship to be dropped from the Constitution," said Mustafa Karadayi of the MRF.

images by BGNES