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Tension rises during protest against the euro in central Sofia

4
Photo: Maria Fileva

A protest in defense of the Bulgarian lev and against Bulgaria's entry into the Eurozone began at noon in the center of Sofia. The organizers are the Vazrazhdane party and civil organizations. The participants are demanding a broad public debate on the consequences of the introduction of the euro.

The protesters gathered in front of the Bulgarian National Bank. Symbolically, effigies with the faces of Valdis Dombrovskis, Christine Lagarde and Pascal Donahue on whom Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone depends were burned. 

During the protest, the Vazrazhdane party's leader Kostadin Kostadinov stated that if their request to organize a referendum to preserve the Bulgarian lev was not met, access to parliament could be blocked.

"604,000 Bulgarians signed our petition for a referendum. Millions more want the Bulgarian lev to be preserved, but a vile, venal gang that wants to steal several tens of billions wants to bring Bulgaria into the Eurozone despite the opinion of 80% of the Bulgarian people. We will not allow this and we are starting today."

Vazrazhdane's request for a referendum was rejected by the National Assembly in the summer of 2023, and in 2024 the Constitutional Court upheld the parliament's decision, citing as their motives the fact that the introduction of the euro is enshrined in Bulgaria's accession treaty to the EU.

Kostadinov called on his supporters to continue the protest action on Wednesday.

"The Bulgarian government wants to destroy Bulgaria. When our right to vote is trampled on, we have no choice but to resist. Everything will now be carried over to parliament, including blockades of all other institutions," said Kostadinov.


Then the protesters marched to the building of the European Commission representation in Sofia. The protesting citizens chanted "Resignation!" and "No to the euro!" Tensions rose after protesters began throwing paint and fireworks and tried to set fire to the building's door. Police pushed the protesters away from the building.

Several police officers have been injured. There are also detained participants in the protest, BNR reporter Maria Fileva reported.

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