 The
ideas of a Constitution and Parliament, of electivity
and representation emerged even before the restoration
of the Bulgarian State in 1878 under the influence of
European thinking and practices. The epitome of some of
these ideas could be seen in the convocation, proceedings
and decisions of the Ecclesiastical and People's Council
held in Constantinople in 1871 (the adoption of the Statute
of the Bulgarian Exarchate) and the activities of the
Bulgarian national revolutionary movement (BRCC), which
set itself the task of liberation and establishment of
an independent Bulgarian state. The Assembly in Oborishte
held on 14 April (old style) 1876 made the historic decision
to announce the April Uprising, having all grounds to
be considered the precursor of the Bulgarian National
Assembly and parliamentarianism in Bulgaria. It was again
prior to the Liberation that the Bulgarian public raised
the idea of a constitutional government. The Political
Programme of BCPS (former BRCC), which was worked out
for the Bulgarian People's Assembly at the end of 1876
and sent to the Istanbul Ambassadors' Conference, emphasized
that the Bulgarian statehood had to be restored and explicitly
stated that: "The Bulgarian State will be governed
independently in accordance with a Constitution elaborated
by a legislature elected by the people". It further
read in the following two articles that "All branches
of government will have special laws in the spirit of
the Statute and in accordance of the people's needs"
and "All foreign nationalities intermingled with
the Bulgarian people will enjoy the same political and
civil justice". This is not only the historical tradition
but also the democratic principle underlying political
life in post-Liberation Bulgaria.
The Constituent Assembly in Veliko Turnovo (10 February
1879 - 16 April 1879) set the beginnings of parliamentary
life in liberated Bulgaria. It was convened in accordance
with Article 4 of the Berlin Treaty. It consisted of 229
members (100 were elected at a ratio of one per 10,000
inhabitants and the others participated ex officio either
appointed or representing associations and organisations).
Instead of the Organic Statute prescribed by the Berlin
Congress, the members of the Constituent Assembly worked
out the Turnovo Constitution and signed it unanimously
on 16 April 1879. It included 169 articles grouped into
22 chapters. The Principality of Bulgaria was defined
as "a hereditary and constitutional monarchy with
people's representation". The National Assembly could
be either grand or ordinary. The Assembly adopted the
principle of separation of powers into executive, legislative
and judiciary. The Constitution protected civil freedoms,
the inviolability of ownership, the freedom of individuals,
the equality before law, the right to association, the
abolition of class-related rights and slavery, etc. Eastern
Roumelia, a short-lived province with its centre in Plovdiv,
which survived from 1879 to the Unification in 1885, had
an Organic Statute in force. It was developed by a special
commission consisting of representatives of the Great
Powers and the Ottoman Empire. The Statute provided for
strict separation of powers and the Provincial Assembly
was at the top of the legislative power. It consisted
of seven religious leaders ex officio, ten representatives
appointed by the Governor, and 36 elected members. The
ten-member Standing Committee ensured the co-ordination
between the Governor and the legislative power exercised
by the Provincial Assembly. The Turnovo Constitution was
the fundamental law of Bulgaria from 1879 to 1947. It
was amended twice on 15 May 1893 and 11 July 1911 and
it was suspended twice at the time of the Full Powers
Regime (1 July 1881 - 6 September 1883) and the 19 May
Regime (1934).
 The
Seventh Grand National Assembly voted the Constitution
of the Republic of Bulgaria on 12 July 1991. It also consists
of 169 articles grouped into ten chapters but it has transitional
and final provisions in nine paragraphs. The July 1991
Constitution states that Bulgaria is a republic with parliamentary
government and it is a democratic and social state with
rule of law. It enshrines the principles of separation
of powers, the rights and freedoms of citizens, and the
supremacy of the Constitution. The National Assembly elected
for a four-year term and consisting of 240 Members of
Parliament exercises the legislative power and parliamentary
oversight. Unlike the preceding fundamental laws, the
July 1991 Constitution states that the National Assembly
is a standing body. Its sittings are open to the public,
and the laws and decisions it makes are binding on all
state bodies, organisations and citizens of the Republic
of Bulgaria. The Members of Parliament represent not only
the voters in their respective constituency but also the
entire people. They are guided in their actions by the
Constitution and the laws, acting in accordance with their
conscience and convictions. The Constitution provides
for both Ordinary and Grand National Assemblies to be
elected. The Grand National Assembly is convened on special
occasions such as the adoption of a new Constitution or
a change of the form of government or essential amendments
explicitly stated in the provisions of the existing Constitution.
39 Ordinary National Assemblies and seven Grand National
Assemblies (1879, 1881, 1886-1887, 1893, 1911, 1946-1949,
and 1990-1991) have been elected and functioned so far.
For a short period of time after the suspension of the
Turnovo Constitution during the Full Powers Regime (1881-1883),
a State Council functioned as the supreme institution.
In the wake of the democratic changes since November 1989
and the decisions of the National Round Table, in April
1990 the National Assembly voted an amendment to the 1971
Constitution pending the adoption of the existing Constitution.
The building where the 39th National Assembly sits is
of historic significance and it is a monument of culture.
It was built in 1884-1886 at the design of architect Constantin
Yovanovic, who studied in Vienna and Switzerland and authored
the design of the Serbian Assembly (1891-1892) as well.
The style of the building is neo-Renaissance. The interior
has been refurbished many times but its appearance has
been basically preserved in its original shape. Since
1991, the National Assembly has been using another building
as well, that in 1 Alexander Batenberg Square. |
