site.btaUPDATED Protest in Sofia Asks for Interior Minister's Resignation
Citizens protested in front of the Interior Ministry asking for outgoing Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov's resignation here on Monday. Stoyanov is among the few ministers from the regular cabinet who will remain in office in the caretaker government.
BOEC civil association organized the protest, which is held under the slogan "Resignation of Kalin Stoyanov for fair elections!". The association believes Stoyanov is responsible for vote buying during the previous local elections and says they have concrete evidence of his responsibility.
There was an increased police presence in the area.
Those gathered at the demonstration said that Stoyanov has not done his job properly and expressed suspicions that he is tied to political parties.
Near the Ministry, Interior Ministry officials and another group of citizens also gathered, but in support of the Interior Minister.
On Friday, the caretaker Prime Minister-designate Dimitar Glavchev proposed a draft structure and composition of the Council of Ministers, with Stoyanov nominated as Minister of Interior.
Later that day, Interior Ministry Secretary General Zhivko Kotsev withdrew his resignation. At a briefing at the Council of Ministers, together with outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, the Kotsev said that his request to resign had been "provoked and submitted under enormous psychological and moral pressure", while Denkov added the pressure had come from the Interior Minister and senior figures in the Prosecution Office.
Earlier on Monday, Denkov referred this case to prosecutor Daniela Taleva.
/NZ/
Additional
news.modal.image.header
news.modal.image.text
news.modal.download.header
news.modal.download.text
news.modal.header
news.modal.text