Bulgarian Anti-government Demo Expands, Tens Of Thousands Of People Take To The Streets

Burgas, Bulgaria/ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Neven Myst

JAKARTA - Tens of thousands of people joined the latest massive protests in Bulgaria. Demonstrators accuse the government of widespread corruption and underscore political divisions just weeks before the country joins European countries that use the euro as the official currency early next year.

The demonstration came after last week's protests sparked by government budget plans for higher taxes, increased social security contributions, and increased spending.

The government then withdrew the controversial 2026 budget plan.

The protesters' demands since extended to include calls for Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's central right-wing government to resign.

In the capital, Sofia, protesters gathered in the central square where parliamentary, government and presidential buildings were located. While chanting "Resignation" and "Mafia," they called for Zhelyazkov's minority coalition cabinet to step down.

Students from universities in Sofia joined the protests, which organizers said the number of participants exceeded last week's demonstrations that attracted more than 50,000 people. Media estimates based on the drone's visual say the number of demonstrators reached more than 100,000 people.

The essence of the demonstrators' protests is the role of Bulgarian politicians and oligarchs, Delyan Peevski, who has been sanctioned by the United States and Britain, and his party, MRF (New Beginning) supports the government. Peevski is accused by his opponents of helping form government policies in accordance with the interests of the oligarchs.

No violence was reported and protests ended peacefully.

On Wednesday, the opposition coalition We Continue the Change Democratic Bulgaria called for a motion of not believing in the government. Voting, the sixth motion of the opposition, will take place on Thursday.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev wrote on Facebook that Wednesday's demonstration was a "distrust in the Cabinet."

Radev, an opponent of the government from the left-wing politics, urged lawmakers to listen to the people and to "choose between the dignity of freedom of choice and the shame of dependence" when they voted on Thursday.