Tens of thousands join anti-government protests across Bulgaria

By VESELIN TOSHKOV SOFIA Bulgaria AP Tens of thousands joined the latest massive protests across Bulgaria on Wednesday accusing the regime of widespread corruption and underscoring political rifts just weeks before the country is to join European nations that use the euro as the official currency at the start of next year Related Articles Former Bolivian President Arce arrested in corruption examination a month after leaving office IOC president Coventry sets early target for new Olympic approach on gender eligibility Trump says U S has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela Venezuela s Machado absent from Nobel ceremony but her trip to Oslo draws mixed reactions at home Scrutiny finds humans were making fire years ago far earlier than once thought The demonstrations came after last week s protests that were sparked by the cabinet s budget plans for higher taxes increased social safeguard contributions and spending increases The administration later withdrew the controversial budget plan The protesters demands have since expanded to include calls for the center-right establishment of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to resign In the capital Sofia protesters gathered on a central square where the parliament the administration and the presidency buildings are located Chanting Resignation and Mafia they called on Zhelyazkov s minority coalition Cabinet to step down Students from Sofia s universities joined the protests which organizers reported outnumbered last week s rallies that drew over people Media estimates based on drone visuals put the number of protesters at over At the core of the protesters frustrations is the role of Bulgarian politician and oligarch Delyan Peevski who has been sanctioned by both the United States and Britain and whose MRF New Beginning party backs the leadership Peevski has been accused by opponents of helping shaping executive strategy in line with oligarchic interests TOPSHOT This drone aerial photograph shows the crowd as tens of thosands of protesters gather in central Sofia to demonstrate against the Buglarian establishment in Sofia on December Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro Photo by Dobrin KASHAVELOV AFP via Getty Images Protesters wave Bulgarian and EU flags during an anti-government demonstration in Sofia on December Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro Photo by DIMITAR KYOSEMARLIEV AFP via Getty Images Thousands of protesters take part in an anti-government demonstration in Sofia on December Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro Photo by DIMITAR KYOSEMARLIEV AFP via Getty Images A protester holds a placard which reads as I don t want custom-made sentences in my Bulgaria as he takes part in an anti-government demonstration in Sofia on December Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro Photo by DIMITAR KYOSEMARLIEV AFP via Getty Images Show Caption of TOPSHOT This drone aerial photograph shows the crowd as tens of thosands of protesters gather in central Sofia to demonstrate against the Buglarian regime in Sofia on December Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro Photo by Dobrin KASHAVELOV AFP via Getty Images Expand No violence was shared and the protests ended peacefully Also on Wednesday the opposition coalition We Continue the Change Democratic Bulgaria called for a no-confidence vote in the authorities The vote the sixth such motion by the opposition will take place on Thursday Bulgarian President Rumen Radev wrote on Facebook that Wednesday s demonstrations were in effect a vote of no confidence in the Cabinet Radev an opponent of the authorities who hails from the political left urged the lawmakers to listen to the people and to choose between the dignity of free voting and the shame of dependence when they vote on Thursday Bulgaria is soon to become the st member of the eurozone a euro currency union that is a key EU project aimed at deepening ties between member countries The Balkan country of million people is to make the switch from its national currency the lev to the euro on Jan