The draft of a new constitution and for convening a Grand National Assembly submitted by the government was rejected by the Bulgarian National Assembly. The draft failed to collect 160 votes or a majority of two-thirds, BTA informs. 111 MPs from GERB, the United Patriots and Volya parties voted in favor of the draft. 93 MPs from the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms voted against and 8 MPs abstained.

BSP MP Krum Zarkov described the government’s actions as an attempt to confuse anti-corruption protests and divert peoples’ attention from the health, social and economic crisis. The draft is a blow against democracy and statehood, the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms Mustafa Karadayi said. Society is yet to seek place for constitutional debate, GERB MP Toma Bikov said.