site.btaApril 16, 1879: Bulgarian Parliament Adopts Tarnovo Constitution

On April 16, 1879, the Constituent National Assembly (February 10 – April 16, 1879) in Tarnovo (present-day Veliko Tarnovo) adopted the Constitution of the Principality of Bulgaria, also known as the Tarnovo Constitution. This anniversary is now celebrated as Bulgarian Constitution and Lawyers' Day.

The Constitution consisted of 22 chapters and 169 articles. It complied with a key requirement of the Treaty of Berlin (July 13, 1878), according to which Bulgaria was to be hereditary constitutional monarchy with national representation. Legislative power was vested in a National Assembly, which could be either Ordinary or Grand.

The executive branch was headed by the monarch, with a Council of Ministers under him. The prime minister and the ministers were appointed and dismissed by the monarch. The Tarnovo Constitution also laid the groundwork for local government, based on municipal self-governance. It defined the national symbols: the flag and the coat of arms.

The Tarnovo Constitution was among the most democratic ones in Europe. It established a society without titles, privileges, or slavery, proclaimed civil rights and freedoms, and laid the foundations of parliamentarism through universal suffrage without property or class-based qualifications.

The Second Grand National Assembly (July 1, 1881, in Svishtov) suspended the Constitution, granting Prince Alexander I the extraordinary powers he requested to rule the country for seven years at his own discretion.

The Tarnovo Constitution was amended on May 15, 1893, by the Fourth Grand National Assembly (May 3–17, 1893), which introduced the titles "Royal Highness" for the prince and his heir. It was further amended on July 11, 1911, by the Fifth Grand National Assembly (June 9 – July 9, 1911, in Tarnovo), following Bulgaria's declaration of independence and proclamation as a kingdom (September 22, 1908).

The Tarnovo Constitution was not complied with in 1943, when, after the death of Tsar Boris III, a regency council was appointed by an Ordinary rather than a Grand National Assembly, as required by Article 27.

The Tarnovo Constitution remained in force until December 6, 1947, when the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria came into effect.