Fresh anti-government rallies gather people in Sofia and other cities
Baku, December 10, AZERTAC
An anti-government protest is underway in central Sofia Wednesday evening with the organizers hoping to recreate a massive rally on December 1, according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). Taking place under the slogan “Resignation! Peevski and Borissov Out of Power”, it is centred in Independence Square which is also known as the Power Triangle, where the new National Assembly building is flanked by the Presidency and the Council of Ministers. Organizers are the opposition Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition.
"Peevski" is the leader of the MRF - New Beginning, Delyan Peevski, and "Borissov" is GERB leader "Boyko Borissov.
Protests are also held in other major cities across the country as well as in many European cities with large Bulgarian communities.
Health care professionals without doctor's degrees and students, who staged separate protest action earlier in the day, have announced plans to join the bigger demonstration.
There is strong police presence in the area.
Police are checking the luggage of the people headed for the protest location.
Initially the protest movement was sparked by the government's controversial budget plans including higher taxes and social security contributions, and increased government debt, but the demands have since escalated to calls for the government to resign.
Sofia police have announced extensive security measures. Ivan Georgiev, Head of the Mass Events unit at the Sofia Directorate of Interior, said 19 access control points will be set up in the city. Around 150 stewards provided by the organizers will be on site. Police will also deploy a powerful mobile public address system to issue instructions to participants and to help remove potential provocateurs.
Following the December 1 rally, the 2026 draft budget was withdrawn by the government despite its initial reluctance. Nonetheless, CC-DB submitted a motion of no confidence against the government which will be put to a vote on Thursday.
The government is determined to stay on and GERB leader Boyko Borissov said earlier on Wednesday that he "can talk of resignations after January 1" when Bulgaria will join the euro zone.
Delyan Peevski's MRF - New Beginning held demonstrations across the country to show support for the government.
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