The photo-documentary exhibition "35 Years of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria," prepared by the National Assembly administration, will be presented to the general public in regional libraries across eight cities in the country: Montana, Vratsa, Vidin, Varna, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Ruse, and Veliko Tarnovo. This initiative by Parliament Speaker Mihaela Dotsova aims to acquaint citizens with archival materials and documents related to the adoption of the fundamental and supreme legal act of the Republic of Bulgaria by the 7th Grand National Assembly.
The exhibition will begin its tour on September 1, 2026, and will be hosted for two weeks in each of the listed cities. Visitors will be able to see photographs capturing pivotal stages in the drafting of the fundamental law: from the first solemn session in Veliko Tarnovo and the heated debates that marked the transition from totalitarianism to democracy, to the protest of the 39 members of parliament who disagreed with the adoption of the Constitution, and finally the momentous occasion of its formal signing in the plenary hall.
The exhibition also includes copies of some of the 16 constitutional drafts submitted by political entities, elected representatives, constitutional experts, and citizens. It also sheds light on the media coverage of these historical events by showcasing archival issues of the "Debati: sedmichnik za parlamentaren zhivot" (Debates: Weekly for Parliamentary Life) newspaper, the full collection of which is preserved in the institution's library.
On July 14, 2026, at the opening of the exhibition in the National Assembly building, the Speaker of the 52nd National Assembly, Mihaela Dotsova, emphasized that thanks to the Constitution adopted in 1991, Bulgaria is a free, lawful, and democratic state. Dotsova described the fundamental law as the "backbone of the modern Bulgarian state" and highlighted its key achievements, such as the separation of powers, term limits, local self-government, and the protection of human rights and freedoms. She added that the Constitution is the foundation that allows us today to enjoy established democratic values and be a part of the European family. On the same day, a roundtable discussion titled "35 Years of a Modern Constitution," organized by the National Assembly Speaker, was held in parliament.
Exhibition Schedule
- Montana: from September 1, 2026
- Vratsa: from September 14, 2026
- Vidin: from September 28, 2026
- Varna: from October 12, 2026
- Plovdiv: from October 26, 2026
- Stara Zagora: from November 9, 2026
- Ruse: from November 23, 2026
- Veliko Tarnovo: from December 10, 2026