site.btaNationwide Protests Continue on Sunday

105 POLITICS - PUBLIC PROTESTS

Nationwide Protests
Continue
on Sunday


Sofia, November 18 (BTA) - Nationwide protests against high fuel prices, the rising cost of living, poverty and corruption continued in Bulgaria on Sunday.

In the capital Sofia, protesters gathered in Prince Alexander I Square, despite the rain. They chanted "Resign!" and "Referendum!". Some of them carried the national flag while others bore signs which said "The people against the parties" and "We must stop the demographic collapse and the genocide in Bulgaria." The demonstration was organized by the Promyana (Change) Civic Forum under the motto "Change the system." People from the western towns of Pernik, Doupnitsa and Vratsa joined the rally in Sofia. They complained that the police were preventing vehicles from entering the capital and joining the protest.

Demonstrations were also held in Rousse, Shoumen, Turgovishte, Silistra, Sliven, Lovech, Troyan, Teteven, Montana, Berkovitsa, Vurshets, Yambol, Plovdiv, Blagoevgrad, Kurdjali, Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad and Svilengrad. They caused road traffic problems at the Petrohan Pass in the Balkan Range and at the southern border crossings of Lessovo and Koulata. The seaside city of Bourgas was cut off the Trakia Motorway in both directions.

In the northern city of Pleven, protesters swarmed into filling stations to buy just 1 lev worth of fuel for their cars and thus disrupted the operation of the stations. This was their way of drawing attention to suspected unlawful arrangements between fuel companies to keep prices high.

Daniela Hristova, one of the organizers of the protests in Pleven, told BTA that the people want change to enable them to live and work in Bulgaria. "We should wake up and demand change from ourselves. Everything should be put under control and the laws must be respected," Hristova said. Anelia Markova, a protester, believes that introducing a majoritarian voting system is the only way to make positive change because people will know whom they are electing and will be able to recall them from the National Assembly if they fail to do their job.

In the northwestern town of Montana, drivers put stickers on their cars, inscribed "No to social murder in Bulgaria!" They explained that they were protesting not only against the high fuel prices but mainly against the rising cost of living, poverty and corruption. The organizers said the peaceful protest was not orchestrated by political parties and was not just aimed against the government but against the politicians in general. Many mothers with children took part in the action in Montana, demanding higher maternity benefits. All protesters were calling for higher incomes.

About 2,000 police officers provided security during the demonstrations across the country, half of them in Sofia, National Police Director Hristo Terziiski said. Interior Minister Mladen Marinov noted that, as usual, there were reports about provocation. LY/VE
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