Bulgaria - Palgrave Connect

1142 TURKEY AND TRIBUTARY STATES .-—-BULGARIA
Robert of Parma ; issue, Boris, burn January 30, 189-1 ; Cyril, born November
17, 1895 ; Eudoxie, born January 17, 1898 ;' Nadejda, born January 30, 1899.
The Prince must reside permanently in the Principality. The princely
title is hereditary. In May, 1893, the Grand Sobranje coniirmed the title of
" Royal Highness " to the Prince and his heir, and this style was recognised
by the Porte and by Russia in April, 1896. The Prince retains the Roman
Catholic faith, but his heir was on February 14, 1896, received into the
Orthodox Greek Church.
Constitution and Government.
The Principality of Bulgaria was created by the Treaty of Berlin, signed
July 13, 1878. It was ordered by the Treaty that Bulgaria should be constituted
an autonomous and tributary Principality under the suzerainty of His
Imperial Majesty the Sultan with a Christian Government and a national
militia. The Prince of Bulgaria should be freely elected by the population
and confirmed by the Sublime Porte, with the consent of the Powers, but
no member of any of the reigning Houses of the Great European Powers
should be elected.
Eastern Rumelia (since its union with Bulgaria also known as Southern
Bulgaria) was created by the Treaty of Berlin, signed July 13, 1878. It was
to remain under the direct political and military authority of the Sultan, under
conditions of administrative autonomy, with a Governor-General nominated
by the Porte. On September 18, 1885, the Government was overthrown by
a revolution, and the union of the province with Bulgaria proclaimed. As
the result of the Conference held at Constantinople by the representatives
of the signatoiy Powers of the Berlin Treaty during the latter months of 1885,
the Sultan, by imperial firman, April 6, 1886, agreed that the government of
Eastern Rumelia should be confided to the Prince of Bulgaria as Governor-
General, the Mussulman districts of Kirjali and the Rupchus (Rhodope) being
re-ceded to the Porte. The rectification of the Organic Statute—chiefly as
concerned the questions of the tribute and the customs—was undertaken by
a Turco-Bulgarian commission sitting at Sofia, but its labours were abruptly
brought to a close by the events which overthrew Prince Alexander on the
night of August 20, 1886. The province for all purposes forms part of Bulgaria.
It is under the administration at Sofia, which is now the only recognised
capital, Philippopolis being merely the centre of a prefecture.
By the Constitution of 1879, amended May, 1893, the legislative authority
was vested in a single Chamber, called the Sobranje or National Assembly. The
members of it are elected by universal manhood suffrage at the rate of one
member to every 20,000 of the population. Those residing in the eity
where the National Assembly sits receive 15 leva (12s.) a day during
session; others, 20 leva (16s.) a day with travelling expenses. All over
30 years of age who can read and write (except the clergy, soldiers on active
service, persons deprived of civil rights, &c.) are eligible as representatives. The
duration of the Assembly is five years, but it may be dissolved at any time by
the Prince, when new elections must take place within four months. Laws
passed by the Sobranje require the assent of the Prince. Questions
concerning the acquisition or cession of territory, changes in the constitution,
a vacancy on the throne, or the appointment of a regent have to be decided
by a Grand Sobranje, elected for the special purpose in a manner similar to
that in which the ordinary Sobranje is elected, but with double the number
of members.
The executive power is vested in a Council of eight ministers nominated
by the Prince—namely, 1. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Public Worship ;
10.1057/9780230270305 - The Statesman's Year-Book, Edited by John Scott-Keltie
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