“I am optimistic all political parties understood how important that is and will back the law [the constitutional amendments] at first reading,” said Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, speaking with journalists at parliament after a Chairperson’s Council sitting was held.

Minister of Justice Hristo Ivanov stated some 160 MPs were certain to back the amendments, which were the required minimum for the process to continue.

“The matter is our receiving [support] from 180 lawmakers to ensure the process takes place fast with a view to having a result before the report in January [the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification (CVM)],” Hristo Ivanov specified.

The minister admitted there were issues on which they had different stances, in particular the quotas splitting.

“What we discussed with our colleagues is that there are different ways of solving these problems. They have to be sought between the first and second reading,” Hristo Ivanov stated.

“I have the feeling we ended a constructive conversation,” he added.