Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1451

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT 1095

1886. His election was confirmed l)y the Porte and the Great Powers in March, 1896. On April 20, 1893, he was married to Marie Louise (born January 17, 1870 ; died January 31, 1899), eldest daughter of Duke Robert of Parma ; issue, Bori.s, born January 30, 1894 ; Cyril, born November 17, 189;'* ; Eudoxie, born January 17, 1898 ; Clementine, born January 30, 1899. The Prince must reside permanently in the principality. The princely title is hereditary. In May, 1893, the Grand Sobranje confirmed the title of " Koyal 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 Catliolic faith, but his heir was on February 14, 1896, received into the Drthodox Greek Church.

Constitution and Government.

The Principality of Bulgaria was created by the Treaty of Berlin, signed ally 13, 1878. It was ordered by the Treaty that Bulgaria should be con- .tituted an autonoinous and tributary Principality under the suzerainty of His imperial ]\lajesty the Sultan with a Christian Government and a national nilitia. The Prince of Bulgaria should be freely elected by the population aid confirmed by the Sublime Porte, with the consent of the Powers, but 10 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 liulgaria) 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 signatory 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-cedetl 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 connnission 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 I'or all purposes forms part of Bul- garia. It is under the administration at Sofia, which is now the only recog- nised capital, Philip[)oi)olis 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 iiicmljers 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 city where the National Assembly sits receive 15 francs (12s.) a day during session; others, 20 francs (166-.) a day with travelling expenses. All over 30 years of age who can read and write are eligilile as representatives. The duration of the Assembly is five years, but it may ])e dissolved at any time by the Prince, when new elections n\ust take place within four months. Laws ])assed by the Sobranje re(|uirc the assent of the Prince. Questions concerning the ac([uisitin or cession of territory, changes in the constitution, a vacancy on the throne, nv 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.

'J'he executive power is vested in a Council of eight ministers nominated by the Prince — namely, 1. ^Minister for Foreign Affairs and Public Worship ;