President Iotova: Attacking Constitution Equivalent to Attacking State's Foundation

Metodi Yordanov, Yoana Hristova

President Iotova speaks at the ceremony (BTA Photo/Bisser Todorov)

Veliko Tarnovo, North Central Bulgaria,

16.04.2026 12:05

(BTA)

Attacking the Constitution means attacking the very foundation of the state, President Iliana Iotova said here on Thursday. She took part in the first of a series of events marking the 35th anniversary of the Constitutional Court and Constitution Day in Bulgaria. The ceremony is held at the Museum of the Bulgarian Revival and Constituent Assembly, where the Tarnovo Constitution was adopted on April 16, 1879.

“Do we realize that when we start changing and rewriting constitutional texts, we are undermining the spirit of our society, its ties with history, traditions, law, and our culture as a people? Hardly. This is proven by every failed attempt to tailor our Constitution to the passions of the day, to the political calculations of one party or another, and to the survival ambitions of individuals who have dared to place themselves above the Constitution,” she said.

Iotova added that such actions end up affecting everyone, as society collectively bears the consequences of “reckless” attempts to alter the constitutional order.

She noted that recent constitutional amendments have had a “symbolic and striking” character, with some provisions struck down by the Constitutional Court and others still in force. According to her, these changes not only fail to function properly and hinder institutions, but also send a troubling message to citizens, that the Constitution can be changed at will and is not sufficiently important, and that it does not necessarily require the separation of powers.

She concluded that such perceptions are harmful and undermine public trust in the constitutional order, adding that the Bulgarian Constitution is a guarantor of the rule of law. It is not only a guarantor, but also a protector of our own rights, the President said.

/KT/