CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
 
Prom. SG. 56/13 Jul 1991 , amend. SG. 85/26 Sep 2003 , amend. SG. 18/25 Feb 2005 , amend. SG. 2
7/31 Mar 2006 , amend. SG. 78/26 Sep 2006 , amend. SG. 12/6 Feb 2007 , amend. and suppl. SG. 100/18 Dec 
2015
 
Preamble  
We, the Members of the Seventh Grand National Assembly, guided by our desire to express the wil
l of the people of Bulgaria, by pledging our loyalty to the universal human values of liberty, peace, humanis
m, equality, justice and tolerance; by holding as the highest principle the rights, dignity and security of the in
dividual; in awareness of our irrevocable duty to guard the national and state integrity of Bulgaria, hereby pr
omulgate our resolve to create a democratic, law-governed and social state, by establishing this
 
 
 
CONSTITUTION  
Chapter one.  
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES  
Art. 1. (1) Bulgaria shall be a republic with a parliamentary form of government.
(2) The entire power of the state shall derive from the people. The people shall exercise this power 
directly and through the bodies established by this Constitution.
(3) No part of the people, no political party nor any other organization, state institution or individua
l shall usurp the expression of the popular sovereignty.
 
Art. 2. (1) The Republic of Bulgaria shall be an integral state with local self-government. No auton
omous territorial formations shall exist.
(2) The territorial integrity of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be inviolable.
 
Art. 3. Bulgarian shall be the official language of the Republic.
 
Art. 4. (1) The Republic of Bulgaria shall be a law-governed state. It shall be governed by the Cons
titution and the laws of the country.
(2) The Republic of Bulgaria shall guarantee the life, dignity and rights of the individual and shall c
reate conditions conducive to the free development of the individual and of civil society.
(3) (new – SG 18/05) The Republic of Bulgaria shall participate in the establishing and the develop
ment of the European Union.
 
Art. 5. (1) The Constitution shall be the supreme law, and no other law shall contravene it.
(2) The provisions of the Constitution shall apply directly.
(3) No one shall be convicted for action or inaction which at the time it was committed, did not con
stitute a crime.
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.(4) Any international instruments which have been ratified by the constitutionally established proce
dure, promulgated and having come into force with respect to the Republic of Bulgaria, shall be considered 
part of the domestic legislation of the country. They shall supersede any domestic legislation stipulating othe
rwise.
(5) All legislative acts shall be promulgated and shall come into force three days after the date of th
eir promulgation unless otherwise envisaged by the acts themselves.
 
Art. 6. (1) All persons are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
(2) All citizens shall be equal before the law. There shall be no privileges or restriction of rights on 
the grounds of race, nationality, ethnic self-identity, sex, origin, religion, education, opinion, political affiliat
ion, personal or social status or property status.
 
Art. 7. The state shall be held liable for any damages caused by illegitimate rulings or acts on the pa
rt of its agencies and officials.
 
Art. 8. The power of the state shall be divided between legislative, executive and judicial branches.
 
Art. 9. (1) (prev. text of Art. 9 – SG 12/07, in force from 01.01.2008) The armed forces shall guara
ntee the sovereignty, security and independence of the country and shall defend its territorial integrity.
(2) (new – SG 12/07, in force from 01.01.2008) The activity of the armed forces shall be regulated 
by a law.
 
Art. 10. All elections, and national and local referendums shall be held on the basis of universal, eq
ual and direct suffrage by secret ballot.
 
Art. 11. (1) Politics in the Republic of Bulgaria shall be founded on the principle of political plurali
ty.
(2) No political party or ideology shall be proclaimed or affirmed as a party or ideology of the state.
(3) All parties shall facilitate the formation and expression of the citizens' political will. The proced
ure applying to the formation and dissolution of political parties and the conditions pertaining to their activit
y shall be established by law.
(4) There shall be no political parties on ethnic, racial or religious lines, nor parties which seek the 
violent seizure of state power.
 
Art. 12. (1) Associations of citizens shall serve to meet and safeguard their interests.
(2) Citizens' associations, including trade unions, shall not pursue any political objectives, nor shall 
they engage in any political activity which is in the domain of the political parties.
 
Art. 13. (1) The practising of any religion shall be unrestricted.
(2) Religious institutions shall be separate from the state.
(3) Eastern Orthodox Christianity shall be considered the traditional religion in the Republic of Bul
garia.
(4) Religious institutions and communities, and religious beliefs shall not be used to political ends.
 
Art. 14. The family, motherhood and children shall enjoy the protection of the state and society.
 
Art. 15. The Republic of Bulgaria shall ensure the protection and reproduction of the environment, t
he conservation of living Nature in all its variety, and the sensible utilisation of the country's natural and oth
er resources.
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г. 
Art. 16. Labour shall be guaranteed and protected by law.
 
Art. 17. (1) The right to property and inheritance shall be guaranteed and protected by law.
(2) Property shall be private and public.
(3) Private property shall be inviolable.
(4) The regime applying to the different units of state and municipal property shall be established b
y law.
(5) Forcible expropriation of property in the name of state or municipal needs shall be effected only 
by virtue of a law, provided that these needs cannot be otherwise met, and after fair compensation has been e
nsured in advance.
 
Art. 18. (1) The state shall enjoy exclusive ownership rights over the underground resources; beach
es and national thoroughfares, as well as over waters, forests and parks of national importance, and the natur
al and archaeological reserves established by law.
(2) The state shall exercise sovereign rights in prospecting, developing, utilizing, protecting and ma
naging the continental shelf and the exclusive off-shore economic zone, and the biological, mineral and ener
gy resources therein.
(3) The state shall exercise sovereign rights with respect to radio frequencies and the geostationary 
orbital positions assigned by international instruments to the Republic of Bulgaria.
(4) A state monopoly shall be establishable by law over railway transport, the national postal and te
lecommunications networks, the use of nuclear energy, the manufacturing of radioactive products, armament
s and explosive and powerful toxic substances.
(5) The conditions and procedure by which the state shall grant concessions over units of property a
nd licences for the activities enumerated in the preceding two paragraphs shall be established by law.
(6) The state shall utilise and manage all the state's assets to the benefit of citizens and society.
 
Art. 19. (1) The economy of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be based on free economic initiative.
(2) The state shall establish and guarantee equal legal conditions for economic activity to all citizen
s and corporate entities by preventing any abuse of a monopoly status and unfair competition, and by protect
ing the consumer.
(3) All investments and economic activity by Bulgarian and foreign persons and corporate entities s
hall enjoy the protection of the law.
(4) The law shall establish conditions conducive to the setting up of cooperatives and other forms o
f association of citizens and corporate entities in the pursuit of economic and social prosperity.
 
Art. 20. The state shall establish conditions conducive to the balanced development of the different 
regions of the country, and shall assist the territorial bodies and activities through its fiscal, credit and invest
ment policies.
 
Art. 21. (1) Land, as a chief national asset, shall enjoy particular protection on the part of the state a
nd society.
(2) Arable land shall be used for agricultural purposes only. Any change in purposes shall be allowe
d only in exceptional circumstances, when necessity has been proven, and on terms and by a procedure estab
lished by a law.
 
Art. 22. (amend. SG 18/05) (1) Foreigners and foreign juridical persons may acquire right of owner
ship over land under the conditions, ensuing from the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European 
Union or by force of international agreement, ratified, promulgated and entered into force for the Republic o
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.f Bulgaria as well as by inheriting under law.
(2) The law of ratifying an international agreement of para 1 shall be passes with majority of two th
irds of all people’s representatives.
(3) The regime of the land shall be determined with a law.
 
Art. 23. The state shall establish conditions conducive to the free development of science, educatio
n and the arts, and shall assist that development. It shall organise the conservation of all national monuments 
of history and culture.
 
Art. 24. (1) The Republic of Bulgaria shall conduct its foreign policy in accordance with the princip
les and norms of international law.
(2) The foreign policy of the Republic of Bulgaria shall have as its highest objective the national se
curity and independence of the country, the well-being and the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Bulg
arian citizens, and the promotion of a just international order.
 
Chapter two.  
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF CITIZENS  
Art. 25. (1) A Bulgarian citizen shall be anyone born of at least one parent holding a Bulgarian citiz
enship, or born on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, should he not be entitled to any other citizenship 
by virtue of origin. Bulgarian citizenship shall further be acquirable through naturalisation.
(2) A person of Bulgarian origin shall acquire Bulgarian citizenship through a facilitated procedure.
(3) No one shall be deprived of Bulgarian citizenship acquired by birth.
(4) (amend. SG 18/05) A citizen of the Republic of Bulgaria cannot be delivered to other state or in
ternational court for the purposes of punitive prosecution unless this is provided in international agreement, r
atified, promulgated and entered into force for the Republic of Bulgaria.
(5) Any Bulgarian citizen abroad shall be accorded the protection of the Republic of Bulgaria.
(6) The conditions and procedure for the acquiring, preservation or loss of Bulgarian citizenship sha
ll be established by law.
 
Art. 26. (1) Irrespective of where they are, all citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be vested w
ith all rights and obligations proceeding from this Constitution.
(2) Foreigners residing in the Republic of Bulgaria shall be vested with all rights and obligations pr
oceeding from this Constitution, except those rights and obligations for which Bulgarian citizenship is requir
ed by this Constitution or by another law.
 
Art. 27. (1) Foreigners residing legally in the country shall not be expelled or extradited to another 
state against their will, except in accordance with the provisions and the procedures established by law.
(2) The Republic of Bulgaria shall grant asylum to foreigners persecuted for their opinions or activi
ty in the defence of internationally recognised rights and freedoms.
(3) The conditions and procedure for the granting of asylum shall be established by law.
 
Art. 28. Everyone shall have the right to life. Any attempt upon a human life shall be punished as a 
most severe crime.
 
Art. 29. (1) No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, or to f
orcible assimilation.
(2) No one shall be subjected to medical, scientific or other experimentation without his voluntary 
written consent.
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г. 
Art. 30. (1) Everyone shall be entitled to personal freedom and inviolability.
(2) No one shall be detained or subjected to inspection, search or any other infringement of his pers
onal inviolability except on the conditions and in a manner established by law.
(3) The state authorities shall be free to detain a citizen only in the urgent circumstances expressly s
tipulated by law, and shall immediately advise the judicial authorities accordingly. The judicial authorities s
hall rule on the legality of a detention within the next 24 hours.
(4) Everyone shall be entitled to legal counsel from the moment of detention or from the moment of 
being charged.
(5) Everyone shall be entitled to meet his legal counsel in private. The confidentiality of such com
munication shall be inviolable.
 
Art. 31. (1) Anyone charged with a crime shall be brought before a court within the time establishe
d by law.
(2) No one shall be forced to plead guilty, and no one shall be convicted solely by virtue of confessi
on.
(3) A defendant shall be considered innocent until proven otherwise by a final verdict.
(4) The rights of a defendant shall not be restricted beyond what is necessary for the purposes of a f
air trial.
(5) Prisoners shall be kept in conditions conducive to the exercise of those of their fundamental righ
ts which are not restricted by virtue of their sentence.
(6) Prison sentences shall be served only at the facilities established by law.
(7) There shall be no limitation to the prosecution and the execution of a sentence for crimes agains
t peace and humanity.
 
Art. 32. (1) The privacy of citizens shall be inviolable. Everyone shall be entitled to protection agai
nst any illegal interference in his private or family affairs and against encroachments on his honour, dignity 
and reputation.
(2) No one shall be followed, photographed, filmed, recorded or subjected to any other similar activ
ity without his knowledge or despite his express disapproval, except when such actions are permitted by law
.
 
Art. 33. (1) The home shall be inviolable. No one shall enter or stay inside a home without its occu
pant's consent, except in the cases expressly stipulated by law.
(2) Entry or stay inside a home without the consent of its occupant or without the judicial authoritie
s' permission shall be allowed only for the purposes of preventing an immediately impending crime or a cri
me in progress, for the capture of a criminal, or in extreme necessity.
 
Art. 34. (1) The freedom and confidentiality of correspondence and all other communications shall 
be inviolable.
(2) Exceptions to this provision shall be allowed only with the permission of the judicial authorities 
for the purpose of discovering or preventing a grave crime.
 
Art. 35. (1) Everyone shall be free to choose a place of residence and shall have the right to freedo
m of movement in the territory of the country and to leave the country. This right shall be restricted only by 
virtue of law in the name of national security, public health, and the rights and freedoms of other citizens.
(2) Every Bulgarian citizen shall have the right to return to the country.
 
Art. 36. (1) The study and use of the Bulgarian language shall be a right and an obligation of every 
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.Bulgarian citizen.
(2) Citizens whose mother tongue is not Bulgarian shall have the right to study and use their own la
nguage alongside the compulsory study of the Bulgarian language.
(3) The situations in which only the official language shall be used shall be established by law.
 
Art. 37. (1) The freedom of conscience, the freedom of thought and the choice of religion and of rel
igious or atheistic views shall be inviolable. The state shall assist the maintenance of tolerance and respect a
mong the believers from different denominations, and among believers and non-believers.
(2) The freedom of conscience and religion shall not be practised to the detriment of national securi
ty, public order, public health and morals, or of the rights and freedoms of others.
 
Art. 38. No one shall be persecuted or restricted in his rights because of his views, nor shall be obli
gated or forced to provide information about his own or another person's views.
 
Art. 39. (1) Everyone shall be entitled to express an opinion or to publicise it through words, writte
n or oral, sound or image, or in any other way.
(2) This right shall not be used to the detriment of the rights and reputation of others, or for the incit
ement of a forcible change of the constitutionally established order, the perpetration of a crime, or the incite
ment of enmity or violence against anyone.
 
Art. 40. (1) The press and the other mass information media shall be free and shall not be subjected 
to censorship.
(2) An injunction on or a confiscation of printed matter or another information medium shall be allo
wed only through an act of the judicial authorities in the case of an encroachment on public decency or incit
ement of a forcible change of the constitutionally established order, the perpetration of a crime, or the incite
ment of violence against anyone. An injunction suspension shall lose force if not followed by a confiscation 
within 24 hours.
 
Art. 41. (1) Everyone shall be entitled to seek, obtain and disseminate information. This right shall 
not be exercised to the detriment of the rights and reputation of others, or to the detriment of national securit
y, public order, public health and morality.
(2) Citizens shall be entitled to obtain information from state bodies and agencies on any matter of l
egitimate interest to them which is not a state or official secret and does not affect the rights of others.
 
Art. 42. (1) Every citizen above the age of 18, with the exception of those placed under judicial inte
rdiction or serving a prison sentence, shall be free to elect state and local authorities and vote in referendums
.
(2) The organisation and procedure for the holding of elections and referendums shall be establishe
d by law.
(3) (new – SG 18/05) The elections for members of the European Parliament and the participation o
f citizens of the European Union in elections for local bodies shall be provided with a law.
 
Art. 43. (1) Citizens shall have the right to peaceful and unarmed assembly for meetings and demon
strations.
(2) The procedure for the organising and holding of meetings and demonstrations shall be establish
ed by law.
(3) No notice to the municipal authorities shall be required for meetings held indoors.
 
Art. 44. (1) Citizens shall be free to associate.
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.(2) No organisation shall act to the detriment of the country's sovereignty and national integrity, or t
he unity of the nation, nor shall it incite racial, national, ethnic or religious enmity or an encroachment on th
e rights and freedoms of citizens; no organisation shall establish clandestine or paramilitary structures or sha
ll seek to attain its aims through violence.
(3) The law shall establish which organisations shall be subject to registration, the procedure for the
ir termination, and their relationships with the state.
 
Art. 45. Citizens shall have the right to lodge complaints, proposals and petitions with the state auth
orities.
 
Art. 46. (1) Matrimony shall be a free union between a man and a woman. Only a civil marriage sh
all be legal.
(2) Spouses shall have equal rights and obligations in matrimony and the family.
(3) The form of a marriage, the conditions and procedure for its conclusion and termination, and all 
private and material relations between the spouses shall be established by law.
 
Art. 47. (1) The raising and upbringing of children until they come of legal age shall be a right and 
obligation of their parents and shall be assisted by the state.
(2) Mothers shall be the object of special protection on the part of the state and shall be guaranteed 
prenatal and postnatal leave, free obstetric care, alleviated working conditions and other social assistance.
(3) Children born out of wedlock shall enjoy equal rights with those born in wedlock.
(4) Abandoned children shall enjoy the protection of the state and society.
(5) The conditions and procedure for the restriction or suspension of parental rights shall be establis
hed by law.
 
Art. 48. (1) Citizens shall have the right to work. The state shall take care to provide conditions for 
the exercising of this right.
(2) The state shall create conditions conducive to the exercising of the right to work by the physical
ly or mentally disabled.
(3) Everyone shall be free to choose an occupation and place of work.
(4) No one shall be compelled to do forced labour.
(5) Workers and employees shall be entitled to healthy and non-hazardous working conditions, to g
uaranteed minimum pay and remuneration for the actual work performed, and to rest and leave, in accordanc
e with conditions and procedures established by law.
 
Art. 49. (1) Workers and employees shall be free to form trade union organisations and alliances in 
defence of their interests related to work and social security.
(2) Employers shall be free to associate in defence of their economic interests.
 
Art. 50. Workers and employees shall have the right to strike in defence of their collective economi
c and social interests. This right shall be exercised in accordance with conditions and procedures established 
by law.
 
Art. 51. (1) Citizens shall have the right to social security and welfare aid.
(2) The state shall provide social security for the temporarily unemployed in accordance with condi
tions and procedures established by law.
(3) The aged without relatives and unable to support themselves, as well as invalids and the socially 
weak shall receive special protection from the state and society.
 
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.Art. 52. (1) Citizens shall have the right to medical insurance guaranteeing them affordable medical 
care, and to free medical care in accordance with conditions and procedures established by law.
(2) Citizens' medical care shall be financed from the state budget, by employers, through private an
d collective health-insurance schemes, and from other sources in accordance with conditions and procedures 
established by law.
(3) The state shall protect the health of citizens and shall promote the development of sports and to
urism.
(4) No one shall be subjected to forcible medical treatment or sanitary measures except in circumsta
nces established by law.
(5) The state shall exercise control over all medical facilities and over the production and trade in p
harmaceuticals, biologically active substances and medical equipment.
 
Art. 53. (1) Everyone shall have the right to education.
(2) School attendance up to the age of 16 shall be compulsory.
(3) Primary and secondary education in state and municipal schools shall be free. In circumstances 
established by law, the higher educational establishments shall provide education free of charge.
(4) Higher educational establishments shall enjoy academic autonomy.
(5) Citizens and organisations shall be free to found schools in accordance with conditions and proc
edures established by law. The education they provide shall fit the requirements of the state.
(6) The state shall promote education by opening and financing schools, by supporting capable sch
ool and university students, and by providing opportunities for occupational training and retraining. It shall e
xercise control over all kinds and levels of schooling.
 
Art. 54. (1) Everyone shall have the right to avail himself of the national and universal human cultu
ral values and to develop his own culture in accordance with his ethnic self-identification, which shall be rec
ognised and guaranteed by the law.
(2) Artistic, scientific and technological creativity shall be recognised and guaranteed by the law.
(3) The state shall protect all inventors' rights, copyrights and related rights.
 
Art. 55. Citizens shall have the right to a healthy and favourable environment corresponding to esta
blished standards and norms. They shall protect the environment.
 
Art. 56. Everyone shall have the right to legal defence whenever his rights or legitimate interests ar
e violated or endangered. He shall have the right to be accompanied by legal counsel when appearing before 
an agency of the state.
 
Art. 57. (1) The fundamental civil rights shall be irrevocable.
(2) Rights shall not be abused, nor shall they be exercised to the detriment of the rights or the legiti
mate interests of others.
(3) Following a proclamation of war, martial law or a state of emergency the exercise of individual 
civil rights may be temporarily curtailed by law, except for the rights established by Art. 28, Art. 29, Art. 3
1 para 1, 2 and 3 , Art. 32 para 1 , and Art. 37.
 
Art. 58. (1) Citizens shall observe and implement the Constitution and the laws. They shall respect t
he rights and the legitimate interests of others.
(2) Obligations established by the Constitution and the law shall not be defaulted upon on grounds 
of religious or other convictions.
 
Art. 59. (1) To defend the country shall be a duty and a matter of honour of every Bulgarian citizen. 
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.High treason and betrayal of the country shall be treated as crimes of utmost gravity and shall be punished w
ith all the severity of the law.
(2) (amend. – SG 12/07, in force from 01.01.2008) The training of the citizens for defending the co
untry shall be established by a law.
 
Art. 60. (1) Citizens shall pay taxes and duties established by law proportionately to their income a
nd property.
(2) Any tax concession or surtax shall be established by law.
 
Art. 61. Citizens shall assist the state and society in the case of a natural or other disaster, on conditi
ons and in a manner established by law.
 
Chapter three.  
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY  
Art. 62. The National Assembly shall be vested with the legislative authority and shall exercise parl
iamentary control.
 
Art. 63. The National Assembly shall consist of 240 members.
 
Art. 64. (1) The National Assembly shall be elected for a term of four years.
(2) In case of war, armed hostilities or another state of emergency occurring during or after the expi
ry of the National Assembly's term, its mandate shall be extended until the expiry of the circumstances.
(3) Elections for a new National Assembly shall be held within two months from the expiry of the 
mandate of the preceding one.
 
Art. 65. (1) Eligible for election to the National Assembly shall be any Bulgarian citizen who does 
not hold another citizenship, is above the age of 21, is not under a judicial interdiction, and is not serving a p
rison sentence.
(2) A candidate for a National Assembly seat holding a state post shall resign upon the registration 
of his candidacy.
 
Art. 66. The legitimacy of an election may be contested before the Constitutional Court by a proced
ure established by law.
 
Art. 67. (1) Members of the National Assembly shall represent not only their constituencies but the 
entire nation. No Member shall be held to a mandatory mandate.
(2) Members of the National Assembly shall act on the basis of the Constitution and the laws and in 
accordance with their conscience and convictions.
 
Art. 68. (1) A Member of the National Assembly shall not occupy another state post, nor shall enga
ge in any other activity which the law defines as incompatible with the status of a Member of the National A
ssembly.
(2) A Member of the National Assembly elected as a minister shall cease to serve as a Member duri
ng his term of office as a minister. During that period, he shall be substituted in the National Assembly in a 
manner established by law.
 
Art. 69. Members of the National Assembly shall not be held criminally liable for their opinions or 
votes in the National Assembly.
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г. 
Art. 70. (1) (prev. text of art. 70, amend. - SG 27/06) A Member of the National Assembly shall be 
immune from detention or criminal prosecution except for the perpetration of crimes of general nature, when 
a warrant from the National Assembly or, in between its session, from the Chairman of the National Assemb
ly, shall be required. No warrant shall be required when a Member is detained in the course of committing a 
grave crime; the National Assembly or, in between its session, the Chairman of the National Assembly, shall 
be notified forthwith.
(2) (new - SG 27/06) Warrant for criminal prosecution shall not be required upon written consent of 
the Member of the National Assembly.
 
Art. 71. The National Assembly shall establish the emoluments of its Members.
 
Art. 72. (1) A Member's prerogatives shall expire before the expiry of his term of office upon any o
f the following occurrences:
1. resignation presented before the National Assembly;
2. enforcement of a prison sentence for an intentional crime, or of an unsuspended prison sentence;
3. establishment of ineligibility or incompatibility;
4. death.
(2) Instances 1 and 2 shall require a resolution of the National Assembly; instance 3 shall require a 
ruling by the Constitutional Court.
 
Art. 73. The National Assembly shall be organised and shall act in accordance with the Constitutio
n and its own internal rules.
 
Art. 74. The National Assembly shall be a permanently acting body. It shall be free to determine its 
recesses.
 
Art. 75. A newly elected National Assembly shall be convened for a first session by the President o
f the Republic within a month following its election. Should the President fail to do so, it shall be convened 
by one-fifth of the Members of the National Assembly.
 
Art. 76. (1) The first session of the National Assembly shall be opened by the senior present Memb
er.
(2) At the first session the Members shall swear the following oath: "I swear in the name of the Rep
ublic of Bulgaria to observe the Constitution and the laws of the country and in all my actions to be guided b
y the interests of the people. I have sworn."
(3) The National Assembly shall elect at the same session its Chairman and Vice Chairmen.
 
Art. 77. (1) The Chairman of the National Assembly shall:
1. represent the National Assembly;
2. propose the agenda for each session;
3. open, chair and close the sessions of the National Assembly and maintain orderly proceedings;
4. attest by his signature the contents of the acts passed by the National Assembly;
5. promulgate all resolutions, declarations and addresses passed by the National Assembly;
6. organise the National Assembly's international contacts.
(2) The Vice Chairmen of the National Assembly shall assist the Chairman and carry out any activit
ies devolved by him.
 
Art. 78. The National Assembly shall be convened for its sessions by its Chairman:
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.1. on his own initiative;
2. at the request of one-fifth of its members;
3. at the request of the President;
4. at the request of the Council of Ministers.
 
Art. 79. (1) The National Assembly shall elect permanent and ad hoc committees from among its M
embers.
(2) The permanent committees shall aid the work of the National Assembly and shall exercise parli
amentary control on its behalf.
(3) Ad hoc committees shall be elected to conduct inquiries and investigations.
 
Art. 80. Any official or citizen subpoenaed by a parliamentary commission shall be obligated to test
ify and present any required documents.
 
Art. 81. (1) (amend. – SG 12/07) The National Assembly shall open its sessions and pass resolution
s when more than half of its Members are present.
(2) The National Assembly shall pass laws and other acts by a majority of more than one-half of the 
present Members, except when a qualified majority is required by the Constitution.
(3) Voting shall be personal and open, except when the Constitution requires or the National Assem
bly resolves on a secret ballot.
 
Art. 82. Sessions of the National Assembly shall be public. The National Assembly may by excepti
on resolve to hold some sessions behind closed doors.
 
Art. 83. (1) Ministers shall be free to attend the sessions of the National Assembly and the parliame
ntary committees. They shall be given priority in addressing the Members.
(2) The National Assembly and the parliamentary committees shall be free to order ministers to atte
nd their sessions and respond to questions.
 
Art. 84. The National Assembly shall:
1. pass, amend, and rescind the laws;
2. pass the state budget bill and the budget report;
3. (amend. – SG 12/07) establish the taxes and determine the size of the state ones;
4. schedule the elections for a President of the Republic;
5. resolve on the holding of a national referendum;
6. elect and dismiss the Prime Minister and, on his motion, the members of the Council of Ministers
; effect changes in the government on a motion from the Prime Minister;
7. create, transform and close down ministries on a motion from the Prime Minister;
8. elect and dismiss the Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank and the heads of other institutions 
established by law;
9. approve state-loan agreements;
10. resolve on the declaration of war and conclusion of peace;
11. approve any deployment and use of Bulgarian armed forces outside the country's borders, and t
he deployment of foreign troops on the territory of the country or their crossing of that territory;
12. on a motion from the President or the Council of Ministers, introduce martial law or a state of e
mergency on all or part of the country's territory;
13. grant amnesty;
14. institute orders and medals;
15. establish the official holidays;
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.16. (new - SG 27/06; amend. – SG 12/07; suppl. - SG 100/15) give hearing and adopt the annual re
ports of the Supreme Court of Cassation, of the Supreme Administrative Court and of the Chief Prosecutor, 
submitted by the Supreme Judicial Council on the application of the law and the activities of the courts, the 
prosecutor’s office and the investigation bodies. The National Assembly may  hear and adopt  other reports  of 
the Prosecutor General  on activities of  prosecution  related to implementation of the law , combating crime  an
d the implementation of  penal policy ;
17. (new – SG 12/07) hear out and adopt reports on the activity of authorities, being entirely or part
ially elected by the National Assembly, where this is provided by a law.
 
Art. 85. (1) The National Assembly shall ratify or denounce by law all international instruments wh
ich:
1. are of a political or military nature;
2. concern the Republic of Bulgaria's participation in international organisations;
3. envisage corrections to the borders of the Republic of Bulgaria;
4. contain obligations for the treasury;
5. envisage the state's participation in international arbitration or legal proceedings;
6. concern fundamental human rights;
7. affect the action of the law or require new legislation in order to be enforced;
8. expressly require ratification;
9. (new – SG 18/05) render to the European Union authorities ensuing from this Constitution.
(2) (new – SG 18/05) The Law of ratification of international agreement of para 1, item 9 shall be p
assed with majority of two thirds of all people’s representatives.
(3) (prev. (2) – SG 18/05) Treaties ratified by the National Assembly may be amended or denounce
d only by their built-in procedure or in accordance with the universally acknowledged norms of international 
law.
(4) (prev. (3) – SG 18/05) The conclusion of an international treaty requiring an amendment to the 
Constitution shall be preceded by the passage of such an amendment.
 
Art. 86. (1) The National Assembly shall pass laws, resolutions, declarations and addresses.
(2) The laws and resolutions passed by the National Assembly shall be binding on all state bodies, a
ll organisations and all citizens.
 
Art. 87. (1) Any Member of the National Assembly or the Council of Ministers shall have the right 
to introduce a bill.
(2) The State Budget Bill shall be drawn up and presented by the Council of Ministers.
 
Art. 88. (1) Bills shall be read and voted upon twice, during different sessions. By way of exception
, the National Assembly may resolve to hold both ballots during a single session.
(2) All other acts of the National Assembly shall require a single ballot.
(3) Each passed act shall be promulgated in State Gazette within 15 days of being passed.
 
Art. 89. (1) A motion of no confidence in the Council of Ministers shall require seconding by at lea
st one-fifth of the Members of the National Assembly. To be passed, the motion shall require a majority of 
more than half of the votes of all National Assembly Members.
(2) Should the National Assembly vote no confidence in the Prime Minister or the Council of Minis
ters, the Prime Minister shall hand in his government's resignation.
(3) Should the National Assembly reject a vote of no confidence in the Council of Ministers, the ne
xt motion for a vote of no confidence on the same grounds shall not be made within six months.
 
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.Art. 90. (1) Members of the National Assembly shall have the right to address questions and interpo
lation to the Council of Ministers and to individual ministers, who shall be obligated to respond.
(2) A motion by one-fifth of the Members of the National Assembly shall be required to turn an int
erpolation into a debate on which a resolution shall be passed.
 
Art. 91. (1) The National Assembly shall establish an Accountancy Chamber to control the implem
entation of the budget.
(2) The organisation, authority and procedures by which the Accountancy Chamber shall act shall b
e established by law.
 
Art. 91a. (new - SG 27/06) (1) The National Assembly shall elect an ombudsman who intercedes fo
r the rights and freedoms of the citizens.
(2) The powers and the activities of the ombudsman shall be regulated by a law.
 
Chapter four.  
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC  
Art. 92. (1) The President shall be the head of state. He shall embody the unity of the nation and sh
all represent the state in its international relations.
(2) The President shall be assisted in his actions by a Vice President.
 
Art. 93. (1) The President shall be elected directly by the voters for a period of five years by a proce
dure established by law.
(2) Eligible for President shall be any natural-born Bulgarian citizen over 40 years of age and qualif
ied to be elected to the National Assembly, who has resided in the country for the five years preceding the el
ection.
(3) To be elected, a candidate shall require more than one-half of the valid ballots, provided that mo
re than half of all eligible voters have cast their ballots in the election.
(4) Should none of the candidates for President be elected, a second round vote shall be held within 
seven days between the two top candidates. The winner shall be the candidate who wins the majority of the 
vote.
(5) A presidential election shall be held not earlier than three months and not later than two months 
before the expiry of the term of office of the incumbent President.
(6) The Constitutional Court shall rule upon any challenge to the legality of a presidential election n
o later than one month after the election.
 
Art. 94. The Vice President shall be elected at the same time and on the same ticket as the President
, on the same conditions and by the same procedure.
 
Art. 95. (1) The President and the Vice President shall be eligible for only one re-election to the sa
me office.
(2) The President and the Vice President shall not serve as Members of the National Assembly or e
ngage in any other state, public or economic activity, nor shall they participate in the leadership of any politi
cal party.
 
Art. 96. The President and the Vice President shall swear before the National Assembly the oath est
ablished by Art. 76 para 2 .
 
Art. 97. (1) The President's or Vice President's authority shall expire before the expiry of his term o
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.f office upon any of the following occurrences:
1. resignation submitted before the Constitutional Court;
2. lasting incapacitation caused by a grave illness;
3. pursuant to Art. 103.
4. death;
(2) In instances 1 and 2, the prerogatives of the President or Vice President shall be suspended upon 
the Constitutional Court's establishing the existence of the respective circumstances;
(3) In instance 1, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President until the expiry of the t
erm of office.
(4) Should the Vice President be incapable of assuming the President's duties, the President's prerog
atives shall be assumed by the Chairman of the National Assembly until the election of a new President and 
Vice President. Elections for President and Vice President shall then be held within two months.
 
Art. 98. The President of the Republic shall:
1. schedule the elections for a National Assembly and for the bodies of local self-government and s
hall set the date for national referendums pursuant to a resolution of the National Assembly;
2. address the nation and the National Assembly;
3. conclude international treaties in the circumstances established by the law;
4. promulgate the laws;
5. on a motion from the Council of Ministers, determine the borders of the administrative territorial 
units and their centres;
6. on a motion from the Council of Ministers, appoint and dismiss the heads of the Republic of Bul
garia's diplomatic and permanent missions at international organisations, and receive the credentials and the 
letters of recall of the foreign diplomatic representatives to this country;
7. appoint and dismiss from office other state officials, established by law;
8. award orders and medals;
9. grant, restore, relieve from and withdraw Bulgarian citizenship;
10. grant asylum;
11. exercise the right to pardon.
12. cancel uncollectable debts to the state;
13. name landmarks and communities of national importance;
14. inform the National Assembly on basic problems within his prerogatives.
 
Art. 99. (1) Following consultations with the parliamentary groups, the President shall appoint the 
Prime Minister-designate nominated by the party holding the highest number of seats in the National Assem
bly to form a government.
(2) Should the Prime Minister-designate fail to form a government within seven days, the President 
shall entrust this task to a Prime Minister-designate nominated by the second largest parliamentary group.
(3) Should the new Prime Minister-designate also fail to form a government within the period estab
lished by the preceding paragraph, the President shall entrust the task to a Prime Minister-designate nominat
ed by one of the minor parliamentary groups.
(4) Should the consultations prove successful, the President shall ask the National Assembly to elec
t the Prime Minister-designate.
(5) Should no agreement on the formation of a government be reached, the President shall appoint a 
caretaker government, dissolve the National Assembly and schedule new elections within the period establis
hed by Art. 64 para 3 . The President's act on the dissolution of the National Assembly shall also establish t
he date of the new general elections.
(6) The procedure for forming a government established by the preceding paragraphs shall further a
pply in the instances envisaged by Art. 111 para 1 .
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.(7) In the instances envisaged by para 5 and 6, the President shall not dissolve the National Assemb
ly during the last three months of his term of office. Should Parliament fail to form a government within the 
established period, the President shall appoint a caretaker government.
 
Art. 100. (1) The President shall be the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the 
Republic of Bulgaria.
(2) The President shall appoint and dismiss the higher command of the Armed Forces and shall best
ow all higher military ranks on a motion from the Council of Ministers.
(3) The President shall preside over the Consultative National Security Council, the status of which 
shall be established by law.
(4) The President shall proclaim general or partial mobilisation on a motion from the Council of Mi
nisters in accordance with the law.
(5) The President shall proclaim a state of war in the case of an armed attack against Bulgaria or wh
enever urgent actions are required by virtue of an international commitment, or shall proclaim martial law or 
any other state of emergency whenever the National Assembly is not in session and cannot be convened. Th
e National Assembly shall then be convened forthwith to endorse the decision.
 
Art. 101. (1) Within the term established by Art. 88 para 3 , the President shall be free to return a bi
ll together with his motives to the National Assembly for further debate, which shall not be refused.
(2) The new passage of such a bill shall require a majority of more than half of all Members of the 
National Assembly.
(3) Following a new passage of the bill by the National Assembly, the President shall promulgate it 
within seven days following its receipt.
 
Art. 102. (1) Within the prerogatives vested in him, the President shall issue decrees, addresses and 
messages.
(2) The President's decrees shall be countersigned by the Prime Minister or the minister concerned.
(3) No countersigning shall be required for decrees pertaining to:
1. the appointment of a caretaker government;
2. the appointment of a Prime Minister-designate;
3. dissolution of the National Assembly;
4. return of a bill to the National Assembly for further debate;
5. the organisation and manner of action of the offices of the Presidency and the appointment of the
ir staff;
6. the scheduling of an election or referendum;
7. the promulgation of law.
 
Art. 103. (1) The President and Vice President shall not be held liable for actions committed in the 
performance of their duties, except for high treason, or a violation of the Constitution.
(2) An impeachment shall require a motion from no fewer than one quarter of all Members of the N
ational Assembly and shall stand if supported by more than two-thirds of the Members.
(3) An impeachment against the President or Vice President shall be tried by the Constitutional Cou
rt within a month following the lodging of the impeachment. Should the Constitutional Court convict the Pre
sident or Vice President of high treason, or of a violation of the Constitution, the President's or Vice Preside
nt's prerogatives shall be suspended.
(4) No one shall place the President or the Vice President under detention, nor shall initiate crimina
l proceedings against them.
 
Art. 104. The President shall be free to devolve to the Vice President the prerogatives established b
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.y Art. 98 points 7, 9, 10 and 11 .
 
Chapter five.  
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS  
Art. 105. (1) The Council of Ministers shall head the implementation of the state's domestic and for
eign policy.
(2) The Council of Ministers shall ensure the public order and national security and shall exercise o
verall guidance over the state administration and the Armed Forces.
(3) (new – SG 18/05) The Council of Ministers shall inform the National Assembly on issues referr
ing to the obligations ensuing for the Republic of Bulgaria from its membership in the European Union.
(4) (new – SG 18/05) When the Council of Ministers participates in the development and the passin
g of acts of the European Union it shall inform in advance the National Assembly and give account of its act
ions.
 
Art. 106. The Council of Ministers shall manage the implementation of the state budget; organise th
e management of the state's assets; conclude, confirm or denounce international treaties when authorised to 
do so by law.
 
Art. 107. The Council of Ministers shall rescind any illegitimate or improper act issued by a ministe
r.
 
Art. 108. (1) The Council of Ministers shall consist of a Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers an
d ministers.
(2) The Prime Minister shall head, coordinate and bear responsibility for the overall policy of the g
overnment. He shall appoint and dismiss the deputy ministers.
(3) Each member of the Council of Ministers shall head a ministry, except when the National Asse
mbly resolves otherwise. Each minister shall account for his own activity.
 
Art. 109. The members of the Council of Ministers shall swear before the National Assembly the oa
th established by Art. 76 para 2 .
 
Art. 110. Eligible for election to the Council of Ministers shall be any Bulgarian citizen qualified to 
be elected to the National Assembly.
 
Art. 111. (1) The authority of the Council of Ministers shall expire upon any of the following occur
rences:
1. a vote of no confidence in the Council of Ministers or the Prime Minister;
2. the resignation of the Council of Ministers or the Prime Minister;
3. death of the Prime Minister.
(2) The Council of Ministers shall hand in its resignation before the newly elected National Assemb
ly.
(3) Should any of the above occur, the Council of Ministers shall continue to act until the election o
f a new Council of Ministers.
 
Art. 112. (1) The Council of Ministers shall be free to ask for the National Assembly's vote of confi
dence in its overall policy, its programme declaration, or on a specific issue. A resolution shall require a maj
ority of more than half of the votes of the National Assembly Members present.
(2) Should the Council of Ministers fail to receive the requested vote of confidence, the Prime Mini
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.ster shall hand in the government's resignation.
 
Art. 113. (1) A member of the Council of Ministers shall not hold a post or engage in any activity i
ncompatible with the status of a Member of the National Assembly.
(2) The National Assembly shall be free to determine any other post or activity which a member of 
the Council of Ministers shall not hold or engage in.
 
Art. 114. Pursuant to and in implementation of the laws, the Council of Ministers shall adopt decree
s, ordinances and resolutions. The Council of Ministers shall promulgate rules and regulations by decree.
 
Art. 115. The ministers shall issue rules, regulations, instructions and orders.
 
Art. 116. (1) State employees shall be the executors of the nation's will and interests. In the perform
ance of their duty they shall be guided solely by the law and shall be politically neutral.
(2) The conditions for the appointment and dismissal of state employees and the conditions on whic
h they shall be free to belong to political parties and trade unions, as well as to exercise their right to strike s
hall be established by law.
 
Chapter six.  
JUDICIAL POWER  
Art. 117. (1) The judicial branch of government shall safeguard the rights and legitimate interests o
f all citizens, juridical persons and the state.
(2) The judicial branch shall be independent. In the performance of their functions, all judges, court 
assessors, prosecutors and investigating magistrates shall be subservient only to the law.
(3) The judicial branch of government shall have an independent budget.
 
Art. 118. All judicial power shall be exercised in the name of the people.
 
Art. 119. (1) Justice shall be administered by the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Supreme Admini
strative Court, courts of appeals, courts of assizes, courts-martial and district courts.
(2) Specialised courts may be set up by virtue of law.
(3) There shall be no extraordinary courts.
 
Art. 120. (1) The courts shall supervise the legality of the acts and actions of the administrative bod
ies.
(2) Citizens and juridical persons shall be free to contest any administrative act which affects them, 
except those listed expressly by the laws.
 
Art. 121. (1) The courts shall ensure the equality and mutual challengeability of the parties to a judi
cial trial.
(2) Judicial proceedings shall ensure the establishment of truth.
(3) All courts shall conduct their hearings in public, unless provided otherwise by law.
(4) All court rulings shall be motivated.
 
Art. 122. (1) Citizens and juridical persons shall have the right to legal counsel at all stages of a tria
l.
(2) The procedure by which the right to legal counsel shall be practised shall be established by law.
 
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.Art. 123. Court assessors shall participate in the trial process in certain cases established by law.
 
Art. 124. The Supreme Court of Cassation shall exercise supreme judicial oversight as to the precis
e and equal application of the law by all courts.
 
Art. 125. (1) The Supreme Administrative Court shall exercise supreme judicial oversight as to the 
precise and equal application of the law in administrative justice.
(2) The Supreme Administrative Court shall rule on all challenges to the legality of acts of the Cou
ncil of Ministers and the individual ministers, and of other acts established by law.
 
Art. 126. (1) The structure of the prosecutors' office shall correspond to that of the courts.
(2) The Chief Prosecutor shall oversee the legality and provide methodological guidance to all othe
r prosecutors.
 
Art. 127. The Prosecutor's Office shall ensure that legality is observed:
1. (new - SG 27/06) by heading the investigation and supervising its lawful implementation;
2. (prev. text of item 1 - SG 27/06) by bringing charges against criminal suspects and supporting th
e charges in common criminal trials;
3. (prev. text of item 2 - SG 27/06) by overseeing the enforcement of penalties and other measures 
of compulsion;
4. (prev. text of item 3 - SG 27/06) by acting for the rescission of all illegitimate acts;
5. (prev. text of item 4 - SG 27/06) by taking part in civil and administrative suits whenever require
d to do so by law.
 
Art. 128. (amend. - SG 27/06) The investigating bodies shall be within the system of the judicial br
anch. They shall perform the investigation of criminal cases when provided by the law.
 
Art. 129. (1) (suppl. - SG 100/15) Justices, prosecutors and investigating magistrates shall be electe
d, promoted, demoted, reassigned in and dismissed from the judicial or respectively the prosecutorial panel 
of the Supreme Judicial Council.
(2) The Chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Chairman of the Supreme Administrative 
Court and the Chief Prosecutor shall be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic on a motio
n from the Supreme Judicial Council for a period of seven years, and shall not be eligible for a second term i
n office. The President shall not deny an appointment or dismissal on a repeated motion.
(3) (amend., SG 85/03; suppl. - SG 100/15) Upon the completion of a five-year service as justice, p
rosecutor or investigating magistrate, and after an attestation, by a decision of the judicial or respectively the 
prosecutorial panel of the Supreme Judicial Council the justice, prosecutors and investigating magistrates sh
all become unsubstitutable. They, including the persons under para 2 shall be dismissed only upon:
1. accomplishment of 65 years of age;
2. resignation;
3. enforcement of a prison sentence for a deliberate crime;
4. lasting actual disability to perform their functions over more than one year;
5. grave offence or systematic non-fulfilment of the official duties, as well as actions undermining t
he prestige of the judicial authority.
(4) (new - SG 27/06; declared anti-constitutional by constitutional court decision No. 7 from 2006 - 
SG 78/06) In the cases of para 3, item 5 the chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation, the chairman of th
e Supreme Administrative Court and the chief prosecutor shall be dismissed by the president upon proposal 
by a quarter of the Members of the National Assembly adopted by a majority of two-thirds of the Members 
of the National Assembly. The president may not refuse the dismissal upon second proposal .
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.(5) (new - SG 85/03; prev. text of para 4 - SG 27/06) The acquired unsubstitution shall be restored 
by a subsequent occupation of the position of a justice, prosecutor or investigating magistrate in the cases of 
discharge under para 3, item 2 and 4.
(6) (new, SG 85/03, in force from January 1, 2004; prev. text of para 5 - SG 27/06) The administrat
ive heads of the bodies of the judicial authority, with exception of those under para 2, shall be appointed at t
he position for a period of five years, having the right of a repeated appointment.
 
Art. 130. (1) The Supreme Judicial Council shall consist of 25 members. Sitting on it ex officio shal
l be the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court an
d the Chief Prosecutor.
(2) Eligible for election to the Supreme Judicial Council besides its ex officio members shall be pra
ctising lawyers of high professional and moral integrity with at least 15 years of professional experience.
(3) (suppl. - SG 100/15) Eleven of the members of the Supreme Judicial Council shall be elected by 
the National Assembly by a majority of two thirds of National Representatives, and eleven shall be elected b
y the judicial authorities . Members of the Supreme Judicial Council shall be elected in accordance with Art. 
130a, para 3 and 4  and following a procedure established by law.
(4) The elected members of the Supreme Judicial Council shall serve terms of five years. They shall 
not be eligible for immediate re-election.
(5) (revoked - SG 100/15)
(6) (new – SG 12/07; revoked - SG 100/15)
(7) (new – SG 12/07; revoked - SG 100/15)
(8) (new – SG 12/07) The mandate of an elected member of the Supreme Judicial Council shall be t
erminated, in case of:
1. resignation;
2. entered into force judicial act of committed crime;
3. permanent inability to execute his/her duties for more than a year;
4. disciplinary discharge from position or revocation of the right to practice law profession or activi
ty.
(9) (new – SG 12/07) At termination of the mandate of an elected member of the Supreme Judicial 
Council another one shall be elected in his/her place from the respective quota to complete the mandate.
 
Art. 130a. (new - SG 100/15) (1) The Supreme Judicial Council shall exercise its powers through pl
enum, judicial and prosecutorial panel.
(2) The plenum consists of all members of the Supreme Judicial Council. The plenum of the Supre
me Judicial Council shall:
1. adopt the draft budget of the judiciary;  
2. adopt a decision to terminate the mandate of an elected member of the Supreme Judicial Council under th
e terms of Art. 130, para 8 ;
3. organize the qualification of judges, prosecutors and investigating magistrates;
4. resolve common organizational issues of the Judiciary;
5. receive and adopt the annual reports under Art. 84, item 16 ;
6. Manage the judiciary’s real estate;
7. make a proposal to the President of the Republic to appoint and dismiss the Chairperson of the S
upreme Court of Cassation, the Chairperson of the Supreme Administrative Court and the Prosecutor Genera
l;
8. exercise other powers defined by law.
(3) The judicial panel of the Supreme Judicial Council consists of 14 members and includes the cha
irmen of the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Supreme Administrative Court, six members elected direct
ly by judges and six members elected by the National Assembly.
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.(4) The prosecutorial panel consists of 11 members and includes the Prosecutor General, four mem
bers elected directly by prosecutors, one member elected directly by the investigating magistrates, and five 
members elected by the National Assembly.
(5) In accordance with their professional context the panels shall:
1. appoint, promote, reassign and remove from office judges, prosecutors and investigating magistr
ates; 
2. carry out periodic attestations of judges, prosecutors, investigators and administrative heads of th
e judiciary and shall decide on matters related to acquisition and restoration of tenure;
3. impose disciplinary sanctions demotion and dismissal of judges, prosecutors, investigators and a
dministrative heads in the judiciary;
4. appoint and dismiss administrative heads of the judiciary;
5. resolve matters related to the organization of the activity of the relevant system of judicial bodies
;
6. perform other powers defined by law.
 
Art. 130b. (new - SG 100/15) (1) The meetings of the plenum of the Supreme Judicial Council shall 
be chaired by the Minister of Justice. He shall not participate in the vote.
(2) The judicial panel of the Supreme Judicial Council shall be chaired by the Chairperson of the S
upreme Court of Cassation. The prosecutorial panel of the Supreme Judicial Council shall be chaired by Pro
secutor General. The Minister of Justice may attend the meetings; however the latter shall not participate in t
he vote.
(3) The chief inspector may attend meetings of the plenum of the Supreme Judicial Council and me
etings of judicial and prosecutorial panel of the Supreme Judicial Council, but shall have no voting right.
Art. 130c. (new, SG 85/03; prev. text of Art. 130a - SG 100/15) The Minister of Justice shall:
1. (amend. - SG 100/15) propose a project of the Judiciary's budget and shall introduce it to the Sup
reme Judicial Council;
2. (revoked - SG 100/15)
3. be able to make proposals for appointment, elevation, demotion, transfer and dismissal of judges, 
prosecutors and investigators;
4. participate in the organization of the judges, prosecutors and investigators qualification;
5. (revoked – SG 12/07)
 
Art. 131. (amend., SG 85/03; amend. – SG 12/07; revoked - SG 100/15)
Art. 132. (amend., SG 85/03) (1) In implementing the judicial authority the justices, prosecutors an
d investigating magistrates shall bear criminal and civil responsibility for their official actions and for the act
s rules by them, unless the deed is an indictable deliberate crime.
(2) (revoked – SG 12/07).
(3) (revoked – SG 12/07).
(4) (revoked – SG 12/07).
 
Art. 132a. (new – SG 12/07) (1) An Inspectorate shall be created at the Supreme Judicial Council, c
onsisting of Chief Inspector and ten Inspectors.
(2) The Chief Inspector shall be elected by the National Assembly by a majority of two thirds of the 
members of the National Assembly for a period of five years.
(3) The Inspectors shall be elected by the National Assembly following the procedure of para 2 for 
a period of four years.
(4) The Chief Inspector and the Inspectors may be re-elected, but for not more than two consecutive 
mandates.
(5) The budget of the Inspectorate shall be adopted by the National Assembly in the framework of t
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.he budget of the judicial power.
(6) (amend. and suppl. - SG 100/15) The Inspectorate shall check the activity of the judicial authori
ties, without affecting the independence of the judges, the court assessors, the prosecutors and the investigat
ors at performing their functions. The Inspectorate  shall carry out checks on the  integrity and conflict of inte
rest of judges, prosecutors  and investigating magistrates , their property declarations  and such aimed at establ
ishing actions undermining the  prestige of the judiciary , as well as  checks related to  violation of independen
ce of judges, prosecutors  and investigating magistrates.  At performing their functions the Chief inspector an
d the inspectors shall be independent and shall obey the law only.
(7) The Inspectorate shall act ex officio, on the initiative of citizens, legal entities or state authoritie
s, including judges, prosecutors and investigators.
(8) The Inspectorate shall present annual report on its activity to the Supreme Judicial Council.
(9) The Inspectorate shall address signals, proposals and reports to other state authorities, including 
to the competent judicial authorities. The Inspectorate shall provide information concerning its activity in pu
blic.
(10) The terms and the procedure of election and discharge of the Chief Inspector and the inspector
s, as well as the organisation and the activity of the Inspectorate shall be regulated by a law.
 
Art. 133. The organisation and the activity of the Supreme Judicial Council, of the courts, the prose
cution and the investigation, the status of the justices, prosecutors and investigating magistrates, the conditio
ns and the procedure for the appointment and dismissal of justices, court assessors, prosecutors and investiga
ting magistrates and the materialization of their liability shall be established by law.
 
Art. 134. (1) The bar shall be free, independent and autonomous. It shall assist citizens and juridical 
persons in the defence of their rights and legitimate interests.
(2) The organisation and manner of activity of the bar shall be established by law.
 
Chapter seven.  
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION  
Art. 135. (1) The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be divided into municipalities and regio
ns. The territorial division and the prerogatives of the capital city and the other major cities shall be establish
ed by law.
(2) Other administrative territorial units and bodies of self-government shall be establishable by la
w.
 
Art. 136. (1) A municipality shall be the basic administrative territorial unit at the level of which sel
f-government shall be practised. Citizens shall participate in the government of the municipality both throug
h their elected bodies of local self-government and directly, through a referendum or a general meeting of th
e populace.
(2) The borders of a municipality shall be established following a referendum of the populace.
(3) A municipality shall be a juridical person.
 
Art. 137. (1) Municipalities shall be free to associate in the solution of common matters.
(2) The law shall establish conditions conducive to association among municipalities.
 
Art. 138. The body of local self-government within a municipality shall be a municipal council elec
ted directly by the populace for a term of four years by a procedure established by law.
 
Art. 139. (1) The mayor shall be the body of executive power within a municipality. He shall be ele
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.cted by the municipal council for a term of four years by a procedure established by law.
(2) In his activity a mayor shall be guided by the law, the acts of the municipal council and the deci
sions of the populace.
 
Art. 140. A municipality shall be entitled to own municipal property, which it shall use to the intere
st of the territorial community.
 
Art. 141. (1) A municipality shall have its own budget.
(2) A municipality's permanent sources of revenue shall be established by law.
(3) (new – SG 12/07) The Municipal Council shall determine the amount of the local taxes under c
onditions, following a procedure and in the framework established by a law.
(4) (new – SG 12/07) The Municipal Council shall determine the amount of the local fees following 
a procedure established by a law.
(5) (prev. text of para 3 – SG 12/07)The state shall ensure the normal work of the municipalities thr
ough budget appropriations and other means.
 
Art. 142. A region shall be an administrative territorial unit entrusted with the conduct of a regional 
policy, the implementation of state government on a local level, and the ensuring of harmony of national and 
local interests.
 
Art. 143. (1) Each region shall be governed by a regional governor aided by a regional administrati
on.
(2) A regional governor shall be appointed by the Council of Ministers.
(3) The regional governor shall ensure the implementation of the state's policy, the safeguarding of 
the national interests, law and public order, and shall exercise administrative control.
 
Art. 144. The central bodies of state and their local representatives shall exercise control over the le
gality of the acts of the bodies of local government only when authorised to do so by law.
 
Art. 145. A municipal council shall be free to challenge before a court any act which encroaches on 
its rights.
 
Art. 146. The organisation and the procedures of the bodies of local self-government and local admi
nistration shall be established by law.
 
Chapter eight.  
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT  
Art. 147. (1) The Constitutional Court shall consist of 12 justices, one-third of whom shall be electe
d by the National Assembly, one-third shall be appointed by the President, and one-third shall be elected by 
a joint meeting of the justices of the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Supreme Administrative Court.
(2) The justices of the Constitutional Court shall be elected or appointed for a period of nine years a
nd shall not be eligible for re-election or re-appointment. The make-up of the Constitutional Court shall be r
enewed every three years from each quota, in a rotation order established by law.
(3) The justices of the Constitutional Court shall be lawyers of high professional and moral integrit
y and with at least fifteen years of professional experience.
(4) The justices of the Constitutional Court shall elect by secret ballot a Chairman of the Court for a 
period of three years.
(5) The status of a justice of the Constitutional Court shall be incompatible with a representative ma
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.ndate, or any state or public post, or membership in a political party or trade union, or with the practising of 
a free, commercial, or any other paid occupation.
(6) A justice of the Constitutional Court shall enjoy the same immunity as a Member of the Nationa
l Assembly.
 
Art. 148. (1) The mandate of a justice of the Constitutional Court shall expire upon any of the follo
wing occurrences:
1. the expiry of the term of office;
2. resignation submitted before the Constitutional Court;
3. the enforcement of a prison sentence for a deliberate crime;
4. actual incapacitation which has lasted for more than one year;
5. incompatibility with an office or activity pursuant to Art. 147 para 5 .
6. death.
(2) The Constitutional Court shall lift a justice's immunity or establish his actual incapacity to perfo
rm his duties by a secret ballot requiring a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes of all justices.
(3) Should the mandate of a Constitutional Court justice be terminated, a new justice from the same 
quota shall be appointed or elected within one month.
 
Art. 149. (1) The Constitutional Court shall:
1. provide binding interpretations of the Constitution;
2. rule on challenges to the constitutionality of the laws and other acts passed by the National Asse
mbly and the acts of the President;
3. rule on competence suits between the National Assembly, the President and the Council of Minis
ters, and between the bodies of local self-government and the central executive branch of government;
4. rule on the compatibility between the Constitution and the international instruments concluded b
y the Republic of Bulgaria prior to their ratification, and on the compatibility of domestic laws with the univ
ersally recognised norms of international law and the international instruments to which Bulgaria is a party;
5. rule on challenges to the constitutionality of political parties and associations;
6. rule on challenges to the legality of the election of the President and Vice President;
7. rule on challenges to the legality of an election of a Member of the National Assembly;
8. rule on impeachment by the National Assembly against the President or the Vice President.
(2) No authority of the Constitutional Court shall be vested or suspended by law.
 
Art. 150. (1) The Constitutional Court shall act on an initiative from not fewer than one-fifth of all 
Members of the National Assembly, the President, the Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court of Cassation
, the Supreme Administrative Court or the Chief Prosecutor. A challenge to competence pursuant to para 1 s
ubpara 3 of the preceding Art. may further be filed by a municipal council.
(2) Should it find a discrepancy between law and the Constitution, the Supreme Court of Cassation 
or the Supreme Administrative Court shall suspend the proceedings on a case and shall refer the matter to th
e Constitutional Court.
(3) (new – SG 27/06) The ombudsman may approach the Constitutional Court by a claim for establi
shment of an unconstitutional law which violates the rights and the freedoms of the citizens.
(4) (new - SG 100/15) The Supreme Bar Council  may refer to  the Constitutional Court  a request for  
declaring as unconstitutional an Act  which violates rights and  freedoms of citizens.
 
Art. 151. (1) A ruling of the Constitutional Court shall require a majority of more than half of the v
otes of all justices.
(2) Rulings of the Constitutional Court shall be promulgated in State Gazette within 15 days from t
he date on which they are issued. A ruling shall come into force three days after its promulgation. Any act fo
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.und to be unconstitutional shall cease to apply as of the date on which the ruling shall come into force.
(3) Any portion of a law which is not ruled unconstitutional shall remain in force.
 
Art. 152. The organisation and the manner of proceeding of the Constitutional Court shall be establi
shed by law.
 
Chapter nine.  
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION ADOPTION OF A NEW CONSTITUTION  
Art. 153. The National Assembly shall be free to amend all provisions of the Constitution except th
ose within the prerogatives of the Grand National Assembly.
 
Art. 154. (1) The initiative to introduce a constitutional amendment bill shall belong to one quarter 
of the Members of the National Assembly and to the President.
(2) An amendment bill shall be debated by the National Assembly not earlier than one month and n
ot later than three months from the date on which it is introduced.
 
Art. 155. (1) A constitutional amendment shall require a majority of three quarters of the votes of al
l Members of the National Assembly in three ballots on three different days.
(2) A bill which has received less than three quarters but more than two-thirds of the votes of all M
embers shall be eligible for reintroduction after not fewer than two months and not more than five months. T
o be passed at this new reading, the bill shall require a majority of two-thirds of the votes of all Members.
 
Art. 156. An amendment to the Constitution shall be signed and promulgated in State Gazette by th
e Chairman of the Grand National Assembly within seven days of being passed.
 
Art. 157. A Grand National Assembly shall consist of 400 Members elected by the generally establi
shed procedure.
 
Art. 158. A Grand National Assembly shall:
1. adopt a new Constitution;
2. resolve on any changes in the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and ratify any international in
strument envisaging such a change.
3. resolve on any changes in the form of state structure or form of government;
4. resolve on any amendment to Art. 5 para 2 and 4  and Art. 57 para 1 and 3  of this Constitution;
5. resolve on any amendment to Chapter Nine  of the Constitution.
 
Art. 159. (1) Only the President or at least half of the Members of the Grand National Assembly ha
ve the right to introduce an amendment bill pursuant to the preceding Article.
(2) The draft of a new constitution or a proposed amendment to the existing Constitution, and any b
ill to introduce a change in the territory of the country pursuant to Art. 158 shall be debated by the National 
Assembly not earlier than two months and not later than five months from the date on which it is introduced.
 
Art. 160. (1) A resolution by the National Assembly announcing elections for a Grand National Ass
embly shall require a majority of two-thirds of the votes of all Members.
(2) The President shall schedule the elections for a Grand National Assembly within three months o
f the National Assembly's resolution being passed.
(3) The mandate of the National Assembly shall expire with the holding of the elections for a Gran
d National Assembly.
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г. 
Art. 161. To pass a bill, the Grand National Assembly shall require a majority of two thirds of the v
otes of all Members, in three ballots on three different days.
 
Art. 162. (1) A Grand National Assembly shall resolve only on the constitutional amendment bills f
or which it has been elected.
(2) In an emergency, a Grand National Assembly shall further perform the functions of a National 
Assembly.
(3) The prerogatives of a Grand National Assembly shall expire after it resolves on all matters for w
hich it has been elected. The President shall then schedule elections by a procedure established by law.
 
Art. 163. An Act of the Grand National Assembly shall be signed and promulgated in State Gazette 
by the Assembly's Chairman within seven days of it being passed.
 
Chapter ten.  
COAT OF ARMS, SEAL, FLAG, ANTHEM, CAPITAL  
Art. 164. The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria shall depict a gold lion rampant on a dark gu
les shield.
 
Art. 165. The state seal shall depict the coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria.
 
Art. 166. The flag of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be a tricolour: white, green, and red from top, p
laced horizontally.
 
Art. 167. The rules for the placing of the state seal and the raising of the national flag shall be establ
ished by law.
 
Art. 168. The National Anthem of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be the song "Mila Rodino".
 
Art. 169. The Republic of Bulgaria shall have for its capital the City of Sofia.
 
Transitional and concluding provisions  
 
§ 1. (1) The Grand National Assembly shall dissolve itself after the adoption of the Constitution.
(2) The Grand National Assembly shall continue to function as a National Assembly until the electi
on of a new National Assembly. Within this term, it shall pass bills for the election of a new National Assem
bly, a President, bodies of local self-government, and other bills. The Constitutional Court and the Supreme 
Judicial Council shall be established within the same term.
(3) The Members of the National Assembly, the President, the Vice President and the members of t
he Council of Ministers shall swear the oath established by this Constitution at the first session of the Nation
al Assembly following the coming into force of this Constitution.
 
§ 2. Pending the election of a Supreme Court of Cassation and a Supreme Administrative Court, the
ir prerogatives pursuant to Art. 130 para 3  and Art. 147 para 1  of the Constitution shall be exercised by the 
Supreme Court of the Republic of Bulgaria.
 
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.§ 3. (1) The provisions of the existing laws shall be applicable on condition that they do not contrav
ene the Constitution.
(2) Within a year from this Constitution's coming into force, the National Assembly shall rescind th
ose provisions of the existing laws which have not been rescinded by virtue of the direct force of the Constit
ution pursuant to its Art. 5 para 2 .
(3) The laws required expressly by this Constitution shall be passed by the National Assembly with
in three years.
 
§ 4. The organisation of the judicial branch of government established by the Constitution shall co
me into force following the passing of the new structural and procedural laws within the term established by 
§ 2 of para 2 .
 
§ 5. Justices, prosecutors and investigating magistrates shall become unsubstitutable if within three 
months of its formation the Supreme Judicial Council does not rule that they lack the necessary professional 
merits.
 
§ 6. Pending the passing of new legislation concerning Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian N
ational Radio and the Bulgarian News Agency, the National Assembly shall practise the prerogatives vested 
in the Grand National Assembly with respect to these national institutions.
 
§ 7. (1) Elections for a National Assembly and bodies of local self-government shall be held within 
three months of the self-dissolution of the Grand National Assembly. The date of the elections shall be sche
duled by the President in accordance with his prerogatives pursuant to Art. 98 subpara 1  of the Constitution
.
(2) The elections for a President and a Vice President shall be held within three months after the ele
ctions for a National Assembly.
(3) Pending the election of a President and a Vice President, their functions established by this Con
stitution shall be performed by the Chairman (President) and the Vice Chairman (Vice President).
 
§ 8. The government shall continue to perform its functions pursuant to this Constitution until the f
ormation of a new government.
 
§ 9. This Constitution shall enter into force on the day on which it is promulgated in State Gazette b
y the Chairman of the Grand National Assembly, and shall supersede the Constitution of the Republic of Bul
garia adopted on May 18th, 1971 (Promulgated in State Gazette No 39/1971; amended in SG Nos. 6/1990, 2
9/1990, 87/1990, 94/1990, 98/1990, corrected in SG No. 98/1990).
This Constitution was submitted to a vote and duly adopted by the Grand National Assembly on Jul
y 12th, 1991.
 
Transitional and concluding provisions  
(SG 85/03)  
§ 4. (1) The National Assembly, within three months from the enactment of the Law for amendmen
t and supplement of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, shall adopt the laws regarding the impleme
ntation of these amendments and supplements.
(2) The Supreme Judicial Council, within three months from the enactment of § 1, item 3 (art. 129, 
para 5) shall appoint the administrative heads of the bodies of the judicial authority.
 
§ 5. The administrative heads of the bodies of the judicial authority who have occupied the respecti
Източник: Правно-информационни системи "Сиела" 12.07.2022 г.ve position for a period of more than five years may be appointed to the same position for only one mandate.
 
§ 6. The justices, prosecutors and investigating magistrates who, by the moment of enactment of thi
s law, have not completed three years of practice at the positions occupied by them shall become unsubstitut
able under the conditions of § 1, item 1 (art. 129, para 3) of this law.
 
§ 7. Paragraph 1, item 3 shall enter into force on January 1, 2004.
The law was adopted by the 39th National Assembly on September 24, 2003 and was affixed with t
he official seal of the National Assembly.
 
Concluding provisions  
(SG 18/05)  
§ 7. Paragraph 2 /art. 22/ shall enter into force from the date of entering into force of the Agreement 
for accession of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union and it shall not apply to the existing interna
tional agreements.
The law was passed by the 39th National Assembly on February 18, 2005 and was affixed with the 
official seal of the National Assembly.
 
Concluding provisions  
TO THE LAW OF AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REP
UBLIC OF BULGARIA  
(PROM. – SG 12/07)
 
§ 12. Within a period of one year from the entry into force of the Law of Amendment and Supplem
ent of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, the National Assembly shall pass the laws, which refer t
o the implementation of these amendments and supplements.
 
§ 13. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall enter into force from the 1st of January 2008.
 
Transitional and concluding provisions  
TO THE ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF BULGARIA  
§ 9. Within three months of entry into force of this Act the National Assembly shall pass the acts re
lating to the application of Art. 130a  and 130b.
§ 10. By the date of entry into force of this Act the elected members of the Supreme Judicial Counc
il shall complete their mandate.
§ 11. (1) Within one month from entry into force of the acts relating to the application of Art. 130a  
and 130b, the Supreme Judicial Council shall allocate the Council members elected by the National Assemb
ly in the judicial and prosecutorial panel of the Supreme Judicial Council.
(2) Where the Supreme Judicial Council fails to allocate the members elected by the National Asse
mbly in the judicial and prosecutorial panel within the time limit under para 1, the National Assembly shall a
llocate them by a resolution.
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