site.btaVazrazhdane MPs Refer National Security Agency Act Revisions to Constitutional Court

MPs Peter Petrov and Georgi Hrisimirov of Vazrazhdane Thursday referred to the Constitutional Court amendments to the State Agency for National Security (SANS) Act adopted earlier in October. The move was backed by 59 MPs, including 3 MPs of the opposition Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, 13 MPs of Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, and Velichie MPs, Petrov told BTA.

Under the revisions, the SANS Chair will be elected by Parliament on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, instead of being appointed by presidential decree. The amendments were adopted conclusively on October 10. President Rumen Radev imposed a veto, but Parliament overrode it on October 23.

Vazrazhdane challenges the constitutionality of the revisions gazetted on October 28, because they go against the separation of powers and the role of the presidential institution as a balancer between the powers, Petrov also told BTA. 

Vazrazhdane will also refer to the Constitutional Court the amendments to the Special Intelligence Means Act, adopted on October 10, vetoed by the President on October 22, and adopted again to override his veto on Thursday, as well as the procedural rules for the election of the SANS Chairperson passed on Thursday. Petrov said that they would again seek support from other opposition forces in the National Assembly in order to collect the minimum required 48 signatures.

Under the revisions to the Special Intelligence Means Act, the Chairperson of the State Agency for Technical Operations will now be elected by the National Assembly upon a proposal from the Council of Ministers, and not appointed by a presidential decree.