site.btaUPDATED On Second Reading, Parliament Votes to Allow Bulgarians with Dual Citizenship to Become MPs, Ministers

With the second of three readings on the constitutional amendments, MPs voted to allow Bulgarian citizens, who has another citizenship, to be elected as an MP if they have lived in the country for the last 18 months.

A total of 163 MPs from GERB-UDF, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria and Movement for Rights and Freedoms voted in favour, while 20 BSP for Bulgaria MPs voted against. Before the adoption of the amendments, a candidate for an MP was required to have no other citizenship than Bulgarian.

Parliament also voted on second reading Bulgarian citizens who have another citizenship and meet the conditions for election as MPs will be allowed to be ministers. However, ministers will not be subject to the residency requirement.

The Parliament also adopted on second reading amendments regarding parliamentary elections. According to the new texts they should be held no later than one month before the expiry of the current National Assembly's term in office. Other amendments voted on second reading stated that science, culture and education are national values.

Under the Constitution and according to the procedural rules for amending it, the bill of amendment should be discussed and adopted by three votes on different days. It is considered approved on first reading if it is supported by three-quarters of all MPs.