Anti-euro Protestors outside Parliament Call for Preserving Lev, Block Traffic in Central Sofia

Marin Kolev

A protestor holding a poster that reads "For our dear lev", Sofia, June 4, 2025 (BTA Photo/Hristo Kasabov)

Sofia,

04.06.2025 11:15

(BTA)

Opponents of the euro changeover in Bulgaria and supporters of the Vazrazhdane party gathered outside Parliament on Wednesday as Bulgaria expects to get two reports, by the European Commission and the European Central Bank, to say that this country is ready to join the eurozone.

The protestors want their lev and a referendum on entry in the eurozone. They shouted "Killers!" and "Resignation!" and blocked the street in front of the parliament building.

Police and gendarmerie stood at the entrances of Parliament to prevent disturbances by the protestors.

Inside Parliament, MPs of Vazrazhdane blocked the access to the rostrum. First, their leader Kostadin Kostadinov took the floor during debates on revisions to the Measures against Financing Terrorism Act, to say that "today was a black day for Bulgaria". The Parliament Chair reprimanded him for disturbing order in the chamber. The same sanction was imposed on MP Tsoncho Ganev for pushing over MP Yavor Bozhankov. Even though the Vazrazhdane deputies continued to block the rostrum, the legislature proceeded with voting the revisions.

Outside Parliament, the rally blocked traffic in central Sofia for over four hours. The Sofia City Hall told BTA that the authorization of the protest does not allow disturbances to traffic. They also said that the security rules do not allowing blocking the entrances to Parliament.

Addressing the rally, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov slammed the Bulgarian central bank "for this false positive convergence report". "After they take our money, they will also take our State and Bulgaria will be occupied," he said. He urged people to self-organize and came out to support the lev and a euro referendum.

Ivelin Mihaylov, the leader of another anti-euro party in Parliament, Velichie, said that "after the illegitimate elections, everything has been a lie". "We want to live free," he said.

The multitude was addressed by journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva, who told them "it is important to show that we are together and we are strong".

Gaytandzhieva was recently exposed by Vienna-based investigative journalist Christo Grozev as working for Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) since 2016. She has called this a lie and threatened to sue Grozev.

/NF/