Bulgarian protesting students gear up for Christmas rally

14:05 24.12.2013
Bulgaria

Rallies against Bulgaria’s Socialist-backed government in the capital Sofia may have reduced sharply, but protesting students are bracing up for a showdown at Christmas.

Despite forecasts that the rallies will end as the winter set in, demonstrating students gathered yet again in front of Bulgaria's parliament on December 14, marking half a year of protests.

Their number, however, has been much lower, compared to the time when Sofia University full blockade was still in place. 

The series of rallies was triggered by the appointment of notorious media mogul Delyan Peevski as Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) back on June 14.

The protesters were not appeased by the subsequent cancellation of the decision and went on to demand the resignation of the Socialist-led cabinet over ties with oligarchs.

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has also demanded the immediate resignation of the country’s embattled cabinet and new snap polls.

Borisov and his center-right government stepped down amid mass protests back in February.

Following weeks without a government, on March 13 Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev announced a caretaker cabinet.

The administration was headed by a diplomat, Marin Raikov, who organized early elections.

Elections were not held for three months, after which in May vote Borisov emerged with a narrow lead.

However opposition parties refused to share power with him and eventually patched together their own coalition.

Adapted from Novinite

 

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