site.btaUPDATED Vazrazhdane Holds Protest in Support of Bulgarian Lev

The Vazrazhdane party is holding a protest in support of keeping the Bulgarian lev in front of the building of the Bulgarian National Bank on Saturday. 

 A little before noon protesters gathered outside the building.

There is increased police presence in the area and car traffic is restricted.

The protesters are carrying the Bulgarian flag and flags of Vazrazhdane. Some are carrying signs ‘Yes to Bulgarian Lev’, ‘No to Euro’.

“I am here to defend Bulgaria, to defend the Bulgarian people,”Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov told journalists. “We are in a campaign to preserve the Bulgarian lev, if there is no referendum, we will block the work of the National Assembly,” Kostadinov said. The protesters chanted "Resign".

“Effigies of Valdis Dombrovskis, Christine Lagarde, Paschal Donohoe were lit, on whom our country's entry into the euro area depends," the party said in a statement. "These are the people who want us to sacrifice our national sovereignty in order to preserve the image of the eurozone and to steal the savings of the Bulgarians," Vazrazhdane added. The European flag was also set on fire. “This is a symbol of the unwavering desire of the protesters to preserve the lev at all costs," the party said.

Later protesters headed to the office of the European Commission in Sofia.