Bulgaria's 1991 constitution established the post-communist legal order, defining the state as a unitary parliamentary republic after decades of socialist governance.
Key Facts
- Adoption date
- 12 July 1991
- Adopting body
- 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria
- Chronological order
- Fourth constitution of Bulgaria
- Number of amendments
- 6 (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015, 2023)
- Preceded by
- Zhivkov Constitution (1971–1991)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The collapse of communist rule in Bulgaria by 1990 and the dissolution of the socialist political order created the need for a new foundational legal document. The preceding Zhivkov Constitution of 1971 was tied to the one-party state and was incompatible with the democratic transition underway, necessitating a wholesale replacement rather than amendment.
On 12 July 1991, the 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria adopted the current Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria. The document defines Bulgaria as a unitary parliamentary republic and serves as the supreme law of the land, replacing the socialist-era Zhivkov Constitution that had been in force since 1971.
The 1991 constitution provided the legal framework for Bulgaria's democratic governance, separation of powers, and protection of civil rights in the post-communist era. It has proven durable, requiring only six amendments over more than three decades, and underpinned Bulgaria's integration into NATO and the European Union in the 2000s.