Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Parliament votes in second reading to allow Bulgarians with dual citizenship to become MPs and ministers

Photo: БТА

MPs adopted amendments to the Constitution in the second of three readings. One of them limits the President's powers in choosing the composition of the caretaker government. The president will now have to appoint a prime minister from a list of people, and after criticism the head of the Supreme Court of Cassation was excluded from the list. The caretaker prime minister will therefore be chosen from among the speaker of the National Assembly, the governor or deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, the president or deputy president of the National Audit Office and the ombudsman or his deputy. If all of the above refuse to take office, the caretaker cabinet will be elected by the National Assembly.
The majority in the National Assembly also approved other important changes to the country's Basic Law, allowing Bulgarian citizens who also hold another citizenship to be elected as ministers and MPs. A requirement of having lived in the country for 18 months will apply to MPs, but not to ministers. 
"Of all the EU countries, Bulgaria is the only one that does not give Bulgarian citizens this right. The time has come," argued Antoaneta Tsoneva of Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB). "They have drilled a huge hole in the national security system," said Atanas Zafirov of the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). The opposition said that it would file a complaint against the constitutional changes.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgaria and Spain discuss their cooperation in Antarctica

A seminar titled ''Science in Antarctica - Bulgaria and Spain in Antarctica'' will be held today at the Egg Hall of the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". The Bulgarian Antarctic Institute said that the seminar aims to present the origins,..

published on 10/3/24 7:05 AM

Daytime temperatures on the rise, no precipitation on Thursday

On Thursday , the minimum temperatures will be between 5 and 10°C, in Sofia 6°C.   The day's highs will be from 23°C to 28°C , in the capital it will be 25°C.   During the day it will be sunny with scattered high clouds. It will become..

published on 10/2/24 7:35 PM

Prime Minister Glavchev: Currently there is no threat to the security of the country

At present, there is no information indicating a threat to the security of Bulgarian citizens. However, enhanced security measures have been taken in the country and security has been provided at strategic locations. This was announced after the end..

published on 10/2/24 7:20 PM