site.btaConstitutional Court Reject MPs' Question about Admissibility of Contemplated Constituional Changes

Constitutional Court Reject MPs' Question about Admissibility of Contemplated Constituional Changes

Sofia, September 17 (BTA) - The Constitutional Court Thursday rejected two questions it was asked by MPs in respect to contemplated changes in the Constitution.

The 10 Court members found that it was inadmissible to ask them about pending legislation. Only two judges held the opposite opinion: Plamen Kirov and Boris Velchev.

In late July, 144 MPs of the 240-seat legislature submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court asking it whether the contemplated split of the Supreme Judicial Council into two colleges (of judges and of prosecutors/investigators) constitute a change of the state structure and should therefore be codified by a Grand National Assembly; and whether any of the colleges can have equal magistratorial and parliamentary quotas and, if yes, whether it is not a precondition for political pressure.

The constitutional changes are among the highlights of a judicial reform package put forward by Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov. The legislative proposal failed to get the support it needs to go through in Parliament with some parties - the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and ABV - arguing that the revisions constitute a change of the state structure and therefore need a Grand National Assembly to adopt them. In a compromise involving GERB, the Reformist Bloc and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, the matter was taken to the Constitutional Court.

Its decision now means that the proposed revisions in the Constitution can be put again on Parliament's agenda.