ied in a specially built mausoleum in the center of Sofia In 1990, after the collapse of the system he helped to build, Dimitrov's body was removed and buried in a regular cemetery.
Brown J. F., Bulgaria Under Communist Rule ( New York-Washington, D.C.-London, 1970); Evans Stanley G., A Short History of Bulgaria ( London, 1960); Oren Nissan, Revolution Administered. Agrarianism and Communism in Bulgaria ( Maryland, 1973).
Dimitrov Constitution. Georgy Dimitrov (see Dimitrov, Georgy) returned to Bulgaria from exile in the Soviet Union in 1945. This first task was to create a quasi-legal framework for communist dictatorship. In 1946, his government held a plebiscite which, predictably, led to the abolition of the monarchy. It also approved the proclamation of Bulgaria as a People's Republic. Elections were then held for a Grand National Assembly whose major task was to write a new constitution.
In December 1947, the assembly approved the so-called "Dimitrov Constitution" which, in fact, replaced the Turnovo constitution of 1879. The new constitution was Dimitrov's in name only. It was, in fact, copied from the Soviet constitution of 1936, a document that had little effect on the politics of communist Bulgaria and which never stopped the judicial murders and other atrocities committed by the security organs.
The constitution proclaimed that Bulgaria was a People's Democracy. It vested all powers in the "people" who exercised it through universal suffrage of all citizens over the age of eighteen. All means of production were declared to be public property, that is, owned by the state. It also permitted the holding of some private property on a limited basis. The constitution, therefore, gave a green light for the state to nationalize all properties that it declared not in conformity with the "public interest." The state was empowered to regulate social activities.
The National Assembly was given authority to enact all laws. It was to elect a presidium and appoint a government. It had the right to declare war and approve peace and also approve the state budget. The assembly was also to appoint judges and the chief prosecutor of the state. It had the right to amend the constitution. Elections for the National Assembly were to be held every four years, and each group of 30,000 citizens was entitled to one deputy. The assembly was to meet twice a year, in between sessions, the presidium was to act as the executive institution.
The presidium was the authority entitled to promulgate laws. It was permanently in session. Its nineteen members were directed by the president of the assembly, who had two vice presidents and a secretary to assist in exercising his functions. The prime minister, his cabinet, and the chairmen of various parliamentary committees usually were members of the presidium. The government was responsible to the National Assembly, and when it was not in session, to the presidium. Any action taken by local governments was subject to governmental approval. The constitution also created a supreme court, appointed by the assembly for five-year terms.
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Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: Dictionary of East European History since 1945.
Contributors: Joseph Held - Author.
Publisher: Greenwood Press.
Place of publication: Westport, CT.
Publication year: 1994.
Page number: 103.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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