site.btaUPDATED ‘Hands Off the Lev’ Rings Out in Nationwide Anti-Euro Rallies
A protest against Bulgaria adopting the euro took place in downtown areas of many major regional centres, with demonstrators gathering in support of keeping the Bulgarian lev on Saturday.
The participants held Bulgarian flags and signs with slogans such as "Freedom for the Bulgarian lev", "The future belongs to sovereign states", and "We do not want the euro". The protest featured patriotic songs, a stage displaying a banner that read "The battle for the Bulgarian lev is the last battle for Bulgaria", and flags of the Vazrazhdane party.
Protests against introducing the euro were held in Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Haskovo, Kyustendil, Lovech, Pernik, Petrich, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Samokov, Shumen, Sliven, Sofia, Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Troyan, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Yambol, among others.
In Sofia, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov urged politicians not to make a serious political error. Speaking to journalists, Kostadinov announced that all Bulgarian citizens would be invited to gather outside parliament next week when a European commissioner is scheduled to visit. He noted that the name of the commissioner has not been revealed yet. Kostadinov also called for a referendum on Bulgaria’s membership in the eurozone. "We want to keep the Bulgarian currency, we want to preserve Bulgaria’s independence," Kostadinov added.
BTA notes the convergence report on Bulgaria's readiness to join the euro is expected on June 4, 2025.
/KT/
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