site.btaJustice Minister Says Next Six Weeks Will Be Decisive for Constitutional Changes

The next month to month and a half will be decisive for the constitutional changes, for Bulgaria to build a truly independent judiciary and effective justice, which is something that all Bulgarian citizens expect, Justice Minister Atanas Slavov told journalists here Saturday.

In his words, what is key during the two-month pause of the process in Parliament is that talks have been constantly held with all the main political forces, with the representatives of the judiciary and civil society to have a consolidated version to be proposed in early December and to receive broader support. "That there is no retreat from the basic ideas that have been announced so far, but that we are still within the broad consensus. Because when it comes to the Constitution, it is not a question of majorities, it is a question of everyone feeling included in the process and in the end the result is the new social contract we are aiming for," Minister Slavov added.

Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Hristo Ivanov pointed out that a serious and fruitful discussion is taking place on the topic of constitutional changes, and consensus around concrete solutions is beginning to emerge. "Yesterday [Friday] we had consultations with the President of the National Assembly, during which we agreed that the next reading of the Constitution in Parliament will be on 8 December. After that, the remaining readings of the draft will develop," Ivanov said. 

Slavov and Ivanov are in Razgrad to participate in a seminar with the municipal councillors and mayors about the challenges facing local government. The discussion was attended by CC-DB MPs Antoaneta Tsoneva, Ivaylo Mirchev and Nadezhda Yordanova, the head of Minister Slavov's political cabinet, Borislav Ganchev, among others.

Topics related to the rule of law, conflict of interest, local self-government bodies and administration, budget perspectives and other legislative initiatives relevant to local government were discussed. The political situation was also be analysed as well.