Bulgaria’s Ruling Parties Collect Signatures of MPs in favor of Constitutional Changes

Politics » DOMESTIC | May 20, 2015, Wednesday // 10:13
Bulgaria: Bulgaria’s Ruling Parties Collect Signatures of MPs in favor of Constitutional Changes Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria’s ruling parties start collecting signatures in favor of a set of proposed changes to the Constitution and the bill is expected to be submitted to the Parliament’s registry by the end of Wednesday.

The proposal needs to be backed by 60 MPs before it is submitted by Parliament but ruling party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) has said it will seek to ensure maximum support for the move.

The set of proposed constitutional amendments concern Bulgaria’s judiciary.

The constitutional amendments will allow changes to the Judiciary Act envisaged in the Bulgaria’s judicial reform strategy.

The changes envisage a reduction of the term in office of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) from 5 to 4 years, division of the VSS into two units, including one tasked with judges’ affairs and one in charge of prosecutors.

The project envisages an alternative to the individual constitutional complaint, with every court receiving authorization to notify the Constitutional Court when it establishes a clash between a law and the Constitution in a civil, criminal, or administrative case, according to reports of dnevnik.bg.

Besides, the Chief Prosecutor is to be made more accountable and to undergo hearings in Parliament on important social affairs upon the request of the Parliament, according to the Bulgarian National Radio.

The VSS is to manage the property of the judiciary.

The VSS is to remain a 25-strong body, including a quota of 11 members elected by Parliament.

The separation of VSS into two units is to be made by Parliament.

The proposal is backed by the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), the Reformist Bloc, and the Patriotic Front.

The Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV) has a somewhat different stance from the other political parties backing the ruling majority.

ABV insists on the convening of a Grand National Assembly and opposes the division of the VSS into two units.

GERB has said it could seek the support of MPS from the Bulgarian Democratic Center for the constitutional changes.

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Tags: constitutional changes, Constitutional Court, Judiciary Act, Supreme Judicial Council, VSS, judicial reform strategy

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