Twenty years apart, the two events of July 30 gave Bulgarian history two very different landmarks: one a cornerstone of its new democracy, the other of its modern skyline.
July 30, 1991 — Establishing the Constitutional Court
Just weeks after the adoption of Bulgaria’s new democratic constitution, the Grand National Assembly passed the Constitutional Court Act. It created a body independent of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, empowered to strike down laws that conflict with the constitution.
Formally constituted that October, the court quickly became one of the key institutional guarantees of the young Bulgarian democracy. It also established itself as a model for post-communist constitutional justice across the region — a mechanism through which the basic law gained a real guardian rather than remaining only text on paper.
July 30, 2011 — Sofia Gets a Modern Arena
The multifunctional Arena Armeets opened in Sofia after about two years of construction. At the moment of its inauguration it was the largest and most advanced indoor venue for sport and entertainment in the country.
Designed to host more than thirty different sports as well as concerts and cultural events, the hall became a natural stage for major occasions — from international volleyball tournaments to some of the biggest names in world music. For the capital, it stood as a symbol of new infrastructure able to gather thousands of spectators under a single roof.
