News

21 April 2026

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva awarded the Union of Lawyers in Bulgaria with the Institution’s honorary plaque on the occasion of the organisation’s 60th anniversary. The award was presented during the official celebration of Constitution Day and the professional holiday of lawyers in Bulgaria.

“Your work is an example of consistency, professionalism, and dedication to the establishment of the rule of law,” the Ombudsman noted.

In her speech, she recalled the work of the founders of the 1879 Tarnovo Constitution, as well as the role of the Seventh Grand National Assembly and the fathers of the modern 1991 Constitution, which was the result of a broad public and political debate and various concepts for the country’s development following the changes.

“This fundamental law embodies Bulgarian society’s aspiration to build a democratic state based on freedom, the rule of law, and respect for human dignity. Today, more than ever, it is important to uphold these principles with professionalism, integrity, and a sense of responsibility,” Delcheva emphasised.

The Ombudsman also reiterated the need for particular responsibility regarding constitutional changes, noting the inclusion of the Ombudsman Institution among the potential candidates for interim prime minister.

“By its very nature, the Ombudsman is an independent defender of citizens, a check on the executive branch, and a guarantor of people’s rights in the face of administrative actions or inactions. It is difficult to reconcile this mission with the possibility of temporarily heading the executive branch itself, and then resuming the role of its check and balance,” stated Velislava Delcheva.

She expressed confidence that “this irregularity will be reconsidered and overcome in the spirit of constitutionalism, democratic principles, and respect for the independence of institutions.”