Tens of thousands of Bulgarians protest against energy monopolists

Tens of thousands of Bulgarians joined the nation-wide street protests against energy monopolists on the eight day of the demonstrations triggered by high electricity bills. The popular discontent reached its boiling point in 35 cities, escalating to civil disobedience in many of them. Power companies throughout the nation were booed and thrown tomatoes, eggs and potatoes at. All demonstrations went under heavy police and gendarme escort. Demonstrators demanded nationalisation of the electricity distributing utilities and for officials who signed unfavourable for the country contracts to be taken to task. The leaders of the uprising went to great lengths to distance themselves from all political parties.

There was a clash between the police and demonstrators in front of CEZ's office in the capital Sofia, resulting in several arrests. "Acts of aggression from some of the demonstrators caused law enforcement officers to intervene," a statement from the Interior Ministry said. Some of the people started chipping off the road surface and throwing pieces of it at policemen. At some point, the crowd tried to overturn police cars and used pepper sprays, which propelled policemen into action to prevent further vandalism. "No additional means of force were used," the Interior Ministry said.

Protests on Sunday blocked traffic through the capital's Orlov Bridge for more than an hour. Protestors gave the Government a week to comply with their demands or risk being brought down. Mayor Jordanka Fandakova was called upon to terminate Sofia TPP's civil law suits against consumers with unpaid bills until the situation is settled.

Once again, people were most active in Varna, with 10,000 residents blocking several key traffic points like the Asparuhov Bridge and Hemus motorway.

Прочети цялата новина

Свързани новини: