Bulgarian Parliament to Discuss Constitutional Amendments at Second Reading

The Bulgarian parliament will discuss the amendments to the constitution concerning the reform of the judiciary at a second reading on Wednesday.

In order for the amendments to be adopted, ? of MPs or 180 lawmakers have to vote in favour.

At the first reading, which took place on September 23, 184 MPs voted in favour of the amendments.

The amendments foresee division of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) into two colleges – one of judges and another of prosecutors.

Among the proposed changes are also increasing the powers of the VSS inspectorate and the direct election of magistrates.

The Supreme Bar Council will also have the right to table complaints to the Constitutional Court.

Between the first and second readings, the texts were amended on the proposal of one of the parties supporting the ruling coalition – left-wing Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV).

The proposal of ABV made the number of professional and political quotas in VSS equal.

This led to some tensions within the coalition government, as the junior partner – the Reformist Bloc (RB) was against the proposed change.

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