President Rumen Radev described the draft amendments to the Constitution as “legally illiterate” and “politically sullied”.

“Instead of reform in the judicial system, what the draft is offering is national division, an attack against local authorities and the presidential institution, and the revocation of voting rights,” he told reporters. In his words the amendments trample upon fundamental principles regarding the balance of powers, and are an open statement for a takeover of the judiciary.

“The attempt at erasing 3 March from the national calendar is an attack on history, on the ideals of the people from the time of the National Revival, on the memory of the thousands who have laid down their lives for our freedom – Bulgarian and foreign soldiers,” the president said in a comment on the idea of making 24 May the country’s national day. In his words that would mean having to choose between our language and alphabet, and our freedom and statehood.

As regards the idea for the regular government to remain in office, after it has resigned, until elections are head, the Bulgarian head of state said the government perceived the caretaker cabinet as a threat: “The threat is obviously in the realization of the contrast, especially between the last caretaker cabinet and the last regular governments – whereas the regular governments created crises, the caretaker government solved them,” Rumen Radev said.