Examination of the Draft

After the Organic Statute was submitted, it was referred to a committee of fifteen members. Their task was to study the draft carefully and report back to the Constituent Assembly.

The debates that followed the committee’s report revealed that Bulgaria already had capable men who could guide the country’s political future. These discussions were intense and showed a high level of knowledge and understanding of governance.

Influential Figures in the Assembly

The principal speakers in the debates were mostly young men who had recently returned from European universities. They brought with them:

Knowledge of European law and politics.

Personal observations from their stay in European capitals.

Experiences of parliamentary life in countries like France, Belgium, and Serbia.

Unlike the traditional elite, most of these men were elected through popular suffrage, not born into privileged positions. They represented the ideas of civilisation, culture, and liberal values in an Assembly that still included many Turkish rayas Istanbul Tour Guide.

Even at this early stage, political tendencies were emerging that would later divide Bulgaria into distinct political parties.

The Committee’s Proposal

The committee proposed changes that were seen as more conservative than the original draft. Instead of a State Council, the committee suggested creating a Senate.

They also introduced property-based qualifications for voters. Citizenship alone did not give political rights. To vote or to become a member of the Assembly, a person had to meet specific financial requirements, which were especially strict for candidates.

These measures were designed to limit the influence of ordinary citizens and maintain control in the hands of wealthier individuals.

Rejection of the Committee’s Report

The Assembly rejected the committee’s report. Instead, members decided to consider the original Russian draft, discussing it point by point. This approach ensured that the final constitution would be more liberal and representative than the committee’s conservative proposals.

The debates on the draft show that even in its early stages, Bulgaria had politically aware leaders capable of shaping a modern constitutional government. The rejection of restrictive proposals in favor of the Russian draft laid the foundation for a more inclusive and democratic political system, balancing local traditions with European liberal ideas.