„The protests have been going on for more than a month, demanding the resignation of the government and the Prosecutor General. Confidence in the ruling majority has been irretrievably lost, as you know the changes in the Cabinet have not convinced anyone. The repression, provocations and attempts to ignore civil discontent only confirm the need for the resignations demanded.“
This is how President Rumen Radev began his address to the people and continued:
„In his statement today, the Prime Minister proposes convening a Grand National Assembly and a series of constitutional changes. The act itself shows disregard for the Constitution. Article 159 of the Constitution states that the right of initiative to convene a Grand National Assembly belongs to not less than half of the Members of Parliament and to the President, but not to the Prime Minister.„
Can the party-state, which methodically tramples on the separation of powers, initiate changes to the Constitution, the Head of State asked and answered:
“My answer is „No“! Can a party that boycotted parliamentary control yesterday propose changes to the Constitution today? The answer is no! Can a government that violates the law not introduce machine voting and reject remote electronic voting organize fair elections? The answer is no! Can a government that stifles freedom of speech offer a debate on Bulgaria’s future? The answer is no! Can the mafia reform the judiciary? The answer is no! Can a Prime Minister who has turned a parliamentary republic into an autocracy propose changes to the Constitution? The answer is no!”
Conversation about changes to the Constitution and about the future of Bulgaria is possible only after the resignations demanded by the society and the holding of fair early elections, Radev concluded.
