The voting process was proceeding smoothly on November 6 2016 as Bulgarians were called to the polls to choose a new President, according to election commission and security officials.
There are 21 candidates vying to be Bulgaria’s next head of state, - Sofia Globe reports.
The President does not head the government but has a largely ceremonial role, albeit with significant constitutional powers such as a limited power of veto over legislation, the right to appoint and withdraw – on the recommendation of the Cabinet – ambassadors, and the power to appoint a caretaker government in the event of an elected goverment’s term ending prematurely and opening the way for parliamentary elections.
The President also is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and has a share in appointments to the Supreme Judicial Council and the Constitutional Court. During the term of Bulgaria’s next President, which begins in January 2017, the head of state will have to appoint two Constitutional Court judges to replace two whose terms will expire.
