Eurasia Press & News
After mass protests against high utility bills turned violent, the Bulgarian government has called it a day – PM saying he feels ‘shamed’ by the bloodshed.Prime Minister Boyko Borisov told parliament on Wednesday that he would hand in his resignation after the regular cabinet meeting later in the day.
“Our power was handed to us by the people, today we are handing it back to them,” Borisov said.
Parliament is expected to vote on the resignation on Thursday.
The move comes after tens of thousands of protesters across the country hit the streets over the weekend, accusing the centre-right GERB government of failing to protect falling living standards.
The series of mass protests in Sofia and other major cities was initially triggered by high electricity bills in the EU’s poorest member state.
On Tuesday night, Sofia became the scene of bloody clashes between police and protesters in which 14 people were injured.
Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Borisov said that he could not stand looking at such violence.
“Every drop of blood is a shame for us,” the Prime Minister declared.
Bulgaria, which joined the European Union in 2007, is the bloc’s poorest member country, with average monthly salaries of 360 euro.
The ruling centre-right party, which won a general election in 2009, has been steadily losing public support in the wake of the country’s worst economic downturn in a decade.
Parliamentary elections are due on July 7.
