Vazrazhdane Stages Protest in Favour of Keeping Bulgarian Lev as Country's Currency

Nikolay Zabov

Sofia,

08.02.2024 10:59

(BTA)

Vazrazhdane protested on Thursday in front of the Constitutional Court building in Sofia over the referendum to keep the lev as Bulgaria's official currency.

Protesters lit smoke bombs and threw bales of hay and animal droppings in front of the Council of Ministers building, which also hosts the Court. A car with a sign reading "Resign, traitors" was briefly on fire.

According to the Constitutional Court website, the Court will hold a sitting later Thursday. A case on a request by 49 MPs to establish the unconstitutionality of a decision on a motion to hold a national referendum will be on the agenda.

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov stated that the Constitutional Court will commit a crime on Thursday. In his words, the court will violate the constitutional will of 604,000 Bulgarians to be asked about their future. This is an unprecedented crime, Kostadinov said and added that the people who will commit this deserve life imprisonment without parole.

Asked by BTA why he was sure that the Court will rule against the referendum, Kostadinov said: "Tell me when the last time was that the Constitutional Court and the Bulgarian government surprisingly acted in favour of the Bulgarian people." He added: "We know. It's all common knowledge in our country."

Vazrazhdane are planning to continue their protests over the weekend.

On July 7, 2023, the National Assembly rejected a proposal by the Vazrazhdane party to hold a national referendum asking Bulgarians "Do you agree that the Bulgarian lev should be the only official currency in Bulgaria until 2043?". The decision was appealed by the parliamentary groups of Vazrazhdane and There Is Such a People, as well as by an independent MP.

At the end of July, the Constitutional Court admitted the request of the 49 MPs for consideration on the merits.

/RY/