In Bulgaria, proposed constitutional amendments related to institutional reform fail first reading but pass threshold to be reintroduced in parliament

Proposed amendments to Bulgaria’s constitution failed on October 6 to get sufficient votes to be approved at first reading, but enough to be put to a first reading vote again, two to five months hence. With 180 votes in Bulgaria’s 240-seat National Assembly needed for approval, the amendments got 161 votes in favour, with 57 against, from the 218 MPs present in the House. The fact that there were more than 160 votes in favour puts it over the threshold for a first-reading vote to be held once more, no earlier than two months from October 6. [...] In their current form, the amendments would restructure the Supreme Judicial Council, reduce the term of office of the heads of the two supreme courts from seven to five years with a possibility of a single further term, and provide for the Prosecutor-General to be appointed on the recommendation of the Justice Minister or three members of the Prosecutors Council, while cutting the Prosecutor-General’s term of office from seven to five years. The amendments provide for a special mechanism for investigating the Prosecutor-General. The amendments diminish the discretion allowed to the head of state in appointing a caretaker prime minister, providing for the choice solely to be between the Speaker of the National Assembly, the head of the Constitutional Court or the governor of the central bank.
Read the full article here: The Sofia Globe