Bulgaria Weakens Presidential Powers, Sparking Political Tension
Recent parliamentary votes in Bulgaria marked significant changes to the country’s security appointment system.
Amendments to the law were approved in both first and second readings, notably limiting the pro-Russian President Rumen Radev’s influence over national security and intelligence leadership.
Under the new legislation, the parliament will now select heads of security agencies based on government proposals, removing the president’s authority to appoint these officials.
This move has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who consider these amendments unconstitutional.
Experts warn that this could lead to increased political control over security services, potentially undermining democratic processes.
President Rumen Radev has criticized the reforms, calling them a long-term threat to democracy.
The discussions also touched upon Bulgaria’s energy policy, with indications that the country plans to halt the transit of Russian gas to Hungary and Slovakia.
Bulgaria remains a key supporter of Ukraine, having supplied a significant portion of military aid since the onset of the full-scale war, making it a crucial part of Kyiv’s defense efforts.
The European Union has praised Bulgaria’s defense industry for its strength, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighting Bulgaria’s robust military manufacturing traditions.