Bulgaria’s parliament passed a sweeping constitutional reform on Wednesday that the ruling majority says is part of commitments to changes in the judiciary and aims for full Schengen membership, but has drawn criticism from pro-Russian President Rumen Radev and the pro-Russian opposition for stripping the president of much of his power to appoint caretaker governments.
The constitutional reform strips the president of many of the appointment powers that have allowed Bulgaria to shift from a parliamentary to a presidential republic in times of political crisis.
It also reduces the power of the Prosecutor General, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the EU, and allows Bulgarians with dual citizenship to be elected as deputies and ministers.
“These changes are a guarantee that Bulgaria will remain an active member of the EU, that Bulgaria will remain a parliamentary republic, which means that pluralism and competition of opinions will be in the first place, and not individual decision-making,” commented Justice Minister Atanas Slavov.
However, the pro-Russian opposition and Radev said they will challenge the reforms before the Constitutional Court.
Radev, for whom the reforms would have the greatest effect, will likely challenge the reform for still allowing the president to appoint caretaker prime ministers, but only if they are officials from the state apparatus listed in the Constitution.
Radev has benefitted from this ‘appointer’ role in the past two years of political crisis, which has made him stand alone as the effective head of state.
As for pro-Russian parties Bulgarian Socialist Party and Vazrazhdane, the two focused their criticism on the change affecting the new electoral rights of Bulgarians with dual citizenship, saying this legitimises the possibility of committing treason.
“A lawlessness was committed that harms the national security of the republic,” said Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov, adding that “Bulgaria is no longer a Bulgarian state”.
Radev also criticised the electoral rights of Bulgarians with dual citizenship and threatened to challenge these changes before the Constitutional Court.
Four years ago, Radev defended the position that Bulgarians with dual citizenship should be given the right to participate in the country’s political life.
(Krassen Nikolov | Euractiv.bg)
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