Many Bulgarians took to the streets to demand the resignation of the government in Sofia and other cities in the country. Bulgarians from Brussels and Vienna also came out in support of the protests.
The protests were also covered by world media - Reuters, France Press and others.
In the capital, many citizens performed the “Triangle of Power“ in protest under the slogan "Resignation! Peevski and Borisov out of power!". The organizers are "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria", who indicated that the protest is demanding "the resignation of the straw government and the permanent expulsion of Borisov and Peevski from power".
The Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs (SDVR) has planned 19 checkpoints and 150 stewards to prevent incidents. The Sofia Municipality also announced a change in the organization of traffic until the end of the protest.
The dissatisfied citizens began to gather in front of the Council of Ministers at around 5:30 p.m. Students who gathered in front of Sofia University for a "protest action against the mafia" also joined after a march to "Independence" Square.
A stage with a large screen was set up next to the fountain in front of the presidency building. There were two more large screens in front of the National Assembly and in front of the Bulgarian National Bank. The video walls broadcast speeches by the chairman of "We Continue the Change" Assen Vassilev and influencers, as well as footage from last week's protest and various clips of influencers and videos dedicated to the protest. The inscriptions "Resignation", "The Mafia Out", "Who Ordered This Outrage?" and "For Fair Elections" were laser-printed on the parliament building.
The protesters carried various posters. Among them were ones showing the chairman of "DPS-New Beginning" Delyan Peevski carrying a bat, with the head of Interior Minister Daniel Mitov on top. Others had the face of President Rumen Radev and the inscription: "Say about Botas". Posters showed Delyan Peevski and Boyko Borisov behind bars.
Video walls showed footage made by artificial intelligence, in which Delyan Peevski and Boyko Borisov hug and say they love each other, as well as footage of Peevski hitting Toshko Yordanov from "There is such a people" in the face, and he laughs. Several times the protesters chanted resignation. Singer Nevena Peikova first alone, then together with those gathered, sang "when pa, when pa, when Peevski falls, I don't want to be below, so that he doesn't fall on me". Then the protesters sang the song again with Peikova. Later, the group "Ahat" also took the stage.
In front of the dissatisfied, the chairman of "Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria" and Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Atanas Atanasov stated that “we must take back our state“. He thanked those present and emphasized that the large number of participants gives him confidence that “the power is in the citizens“.
The Chairman of “We Continue the Change“ Assen Vassilev told BTA that they strongly hope that the ruling parties will hear the people today from the protest. Vassilev pointed out that it is not only the political leaders who want the government to resign. “I think that enough people have gathered to tell them directly“, he added.
On stage from the Initiative Committee “Future in Bulgaria“ stressed their determination to continue to insist on healthcare reform.
The leaders of “Continuing Change-Democratic Bulgaria“ Assen Vassilev, Ivaylo Mirchev and Bozhidar Bozanov, who addressed those gathered at the protest in the “Triangle of Power“, called for resignation and fair elections. They promised that if the government does not resign tomorrow, they would be back on the square and this time leave us. Shortly after their speeches, the end of the protest in the capital was announced. It ended with the performance of the Bulgarian anthem. Assen Vassilev, Ivaylo Mirchev and Bozhidar Bozanov also sang it with the protesters against the government.
After the official end of the protest, Orlov Most Square, “Tsarigradsko Shose“ Blvd. and the intersection at Sofia University “ St. Kliment Ohridski“ were blocked.
Groups of people gathered on Orlov Most headed towards the headquarters of "DPS - Novo nacholu" at around 22:30 and by 22:45 they reached the building on "Vrabcha" Str.. A police cordon was in place near the Faculty of Journalism, which is located near the headquarters. Part of the group also overturned garbage containers, and a little later set them on fire and pushed them towards the cordon.
The Director of the State Security Service of Bulgaria, Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, indicated at a briefing to journalists that the police are controlling the situation with about 50-60 people who are aggressing near "Vrabcha" Street. According to him, the majority of the group has been identified. Their profile is that of agitators and the so-called "locals", Chief Commissioner Nikolov indicated.
There were demonstrations in other cities in the country as well
A protest demanding the resignation of the government was held in Blagoevgrad.
Posters with the inscriptions “Resignation” and “Mafia Out” were in front of the Burgas Municipality building, where citizens gathered to demand the resignation of the government.
With shouts of “Resignation“ residents of Varna marched through the city center in a protest march. The demonstration was also joined by people from the local structure of “Vazrazhdane“.
The protesters in Veliko Tarnovo said they wanted the government to resign and called on politicians to hear the voice of the people.
Citizens also gathered at the central square “Bdintsi“ in Vidin. The protest was announced by “We continue the change - Democratic Bulgaria“, and was joined by the civil movement “The Irreconcilables“.
In Vratsa, dissatisfied citizens gathered in front of the municipality building for another protest.
A second protest against the status quo took place in Gabrovo. From the stage, presenters sent messages calling for the government to resign and intolerance towards corruption, and chants of "Whoever doesn't jump is a pig", "Resign", etc. were also heard. The protest ended with a procession.
Citizens of Gotse Delchev gathered for a peaceful protest in the city center. The event was organized through social networks, and the Gotse Delchev Municipality confirmed that an application had been submitted for its holding in accordance with the established procedure. The protest passed peacefully and without any violations of public order.
Dobrichli residents gathered in front of the Municipality in the city to protest against the government. The protest was organized by the local structure of "We continue the change - Democratic Bulgaria", as part of the protests throughout the country.
Citizens gathered in the central square "Sevtopolis" in Kazanlak for a peaceful protest demanding the resignation of the government. The initiative is civil and was organized on social networks, with an official notification received from the municipal administration, and the initiators indicated that the protest is non-partisan.
The protest against the government, which took place in Kardzhali this evening, began in front of the municipal administration building and, after speeches by the organizers, turned into a procession that stopped at two locations – in front of the regional headquarters of – DPS – Novo nachalo“ and that of GERB.
A civil protest, which later grew into a march, demanded the resignation of the government in Kyustendil.
Residents of Lovech went on a protest demanding the resignation of the government, which later also grew into a march.
Citizens of Montana began a protest at 6:00 PM this evening demanding the resignation of the government and holding new parliamentary elections. The protesters marched from the central square “Zheravitsa“ in the city to the Black Bridge, where they briefly blocked traffic, and then returned to the square.
The resignation of the government was also demanded in Pazardzhik – on the pedestrian zone in the city, right next to the Municipality building.
In Petrich, protesters gathered in front of the municipal administration building to express their dissatisfaction with the work of the government and demand its resignation.
In Pleven, the protest against the government turned into a procession along the central pedestrian street.
The protesters in Plovdiv demanded “policies that serve the people, not backstage deals”. Later, the crowd also went on a procession.
Citizens gathered near the Municipality and District Administration buildings in Razgrad to protest against the model of governance in the country. It ended with the singing of the national anthem together.
In front of the Courthouse in Ruse, protesters chanted "Resignation" as well as "Resignation and imprisonment". The protesters inflated pink balloons, which burst while chanting "When Peevski falls, I don't want to be underneath, so he doesn't fall on me".
Two protests - a non-partisan one and organized by "We continue the change" demanding the resignation of the government took place in Sandanski.
In Svishtov, citizens protested in front of the Municipality building. Two applications for protest were submitted to the Svishtov Municipality, confirmed by the administration.
Two protests against the government took place in Silistra. The two protests united and marched through the central part of the city.
The protest in Sliven ended with a peaceful march demanding the resignation of the government. In their statement after the protest, the organizers emphasized that the strong public activity in Sliven is a sign of clear disapproval of the "oligarchic model of government", which, according to them, is associated with figures such as Delyan Peevski and Boyko Borisov.
The protest in Smolyan also passed with posters reading "No to corruption!" and "Let's get rid of the gerbero-depessari mafia in the Rhodope Mountains".
"Stara Zagora is awake", "We will overthrow this government" and "It won't happen this way" were the inscriptions on the posters of the protesters in Stara Zagora.
Citizens of Troyan gathered for a protest under the slogan "Troyan doesn't sleep! We want a normal state! Resignation!“ on the central square “Vazrazhdane“.
In Targovishte, citizens symbolically supported the protests against the cabinet taking place throughout the country.
In addition to the resignation of the cabinet, the speakers at the anti-government rally in Haskovo this evening raised many other demands at the almost two-hour protest, which was held on the central square “Svoboda“.
Citizens gathered at 6:00 p.m. in front of the Shumen Municipality building with a demand for the resignation of the government. The protest was not organized by a party or an NGO, but by citizens on social networks.
Residents of Yambol gathered on the central square, where they chanted “Resignation” and “Mafia out”, and then marched along the central pedestrian zone of the city.