142 Years Since the Adoption of the Tarnovo Constitution

The Tarnovo constitution was adopted by Bulgaria’s Constituent Assembly on April 16, 1879. It included 169 articles grouped into 22 chapters. The Assembly adopted the principle of separation of powers into executive, legislative and judiciary. The Constitution protected civil freedoms, the inviolability of ownership, the freedom of individuals, the equality before law, the right to association, the abolition of class- related rights and slavery, etc. Eastern Roumelia, a short-lived province with its centre in Plovdiv, which survived from 1879 to the Unification in 1885, had an Organic Statute in force. It was developed by a special commission consisting of representatives of the Great Powers and the Ottoman Empire. The Statute provided for strict separation of powers and the Provincial Assembly was at the top of the legislative power. The Turnovo Constitution was the fundamental law of Bulgaria from 1879 to 1947. It was amended twice on May 15, 1893 and July 11, 1911 and it was suspended twice at the time of the Full Powers Regime (July 1, 1881 – September 6, 1883) and the 19-May Regime (1934).

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