On 16 April we mark the Day of the Bulgarian Constitution and the professional holiday of lawyers and judicial staff in Bulgaria – a date celebrated since 1991 at the initiative of the Union of Bulgarian Jurists.

The holiday is connected with the adoption of the Tarnovo Constitution on 16 April 1879 – the first fundamental law of newly liberated Bulgaria, which laid the foundations of modern statehood.

The Tarnovo Constitution – Key Highlights

The Tarnovo Constitution defined the Bulgarian Principality as a constitutional monarchy – the monarch’s power was limited by law, yet he retained a leading role in governance.

The document introduced several democratic principles, ahead of their time:

• separation of powers into legislative, executive and judicial;
• freedom of speech, press and thought;
• political pluralism and freedom of association;
• decentralisation in local self-government;
• parliamentary oversight and ministerial responsibility.

Despite its progressiveness, the Constitution also reflected the norms of its era. The right to vote and be elected was granted only to men, although this was not explicitly stated – it was assumed by default according to the social standards of the time.

A notable fact is that the document lacked a separate chapter on the judiciary, as well as a mechanism for constitutional review – elements that today are fundamental guarantees of the rule of law.

Citizens were referred to as “subjects”, reflecting the monarchical nature of the state structure.

The Significance of the Holiday Today

16 April is an occasion to recall the beginnings of the Bulgarian constitutional model and the principles on which modern statehood is built. The day draws attention to the role of the legal community and the importance of clear rules, separation of powers and the protection of citizens’ rights.

Happy holiday to everyone dedicated to the law and the rule of law.

Sources: 

• National Museum of History – “On 16 April 1879 the Tarnovo Constitution was adopted” 
• National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria – “The Tarnovo Constitution”