Bulgaria Interim ex-PM Joining Constitution Committee

Law lecturer Prof Georgi Bliznashki is to join an ad hoc committee in Parliament set up to work on proposed constitutional changes.

Blizhashki, whose academic experience is overwhelmingly in constitutional law, has been a staunch critic of some of the amendments, and his comments have often been met with resentment by pro-reform lobbies.

The idea to go on with the changes was announced by Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov, but was triggered by PM Boyko Borisov himself. Amendments are said to be aimed at boosting independence of the judiciary and putting an end to decades-old practices with the ruling axis says are hampering efforts to bring justice in Bulgaria.

Bliznashki for his part is joining the committee on behalf of the liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, the third-largest political force dominated by ethnic Turks and purporting to represent the interests of minorities alongside other groups.

The DPS is also harshly opposing most of the ideas, thus sharing views similar to those of Bliznashki.

But some observers are surprised that the professor, once a core member of the socialist party and then a fervent civic activist protesting against the election of a DPS lawmaker as head of the state security agency, is joining hands precisely with this party.

Bliznashki was also the driving force behind an initiative committee which gathered signatures in a petition to put forward a referendum on election rules.

He served as caretaker Prime Minister of Bulgaria between August and November of last year, after the socialist-liberal government (which included the DPS) stepped down.

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