The 64th day of anti-government demonstrations in Bulgaria’s capital city sees various protests by different organisers. One of themes of the demonstrations is how the latter benefit from EU funds. Bulgaria's president called on the government Wednesday to step down, echoing the demands of protesters demanding the resignations of the prime minister and the chief prosecutor over allegations they allowed an oligarchic mafia to seize control of the Balkan country. In the eyes of many, this was not only a violation of the separation of powers and the principle of immunity from which the President benefits, but also an attempt to prepare the ground for the impeachment of … Huge demonstrations kept roiling politics in places as diverse as Chile, Hong Kong, and Lebanon, and new, shorter protests—like those over the downing of an airliner in Iran —erupted regularly. In an address to lawmakers during the opening session of parliament, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev argued that the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his Cabinet was the only way out of the political turmoil. https://media.ccc.de/v/rc3-11541-bulgaria_protests_2020Do you see us?2020 was and still is an eventful year - pandemic, protests, orange men, you name it. Even in the 2020 Investment Climate Statement for Bulgaria, the US Department of State concluded that corruption remains endemic. [Borislav Troshev/EPA/EFE] In early 2020, when little was known about the virus and it seemed like a localized problem, the protest surge that had marked the second half of 2019 continued. editrice, 18,000 (montags bis freitags, 2020), 43,000 (samstags und sonntags, 2020), Wiener Zeitung GmbH / Republik Östereich. 03 September 2020 Protests in Bulgaria turn violent. More than 120 demonstrators were arrested and at least 60 people were injured. Because of the high-level corruption, governmental abuses and the lack of judicial independence, Bulgaria demonstrates that national check and … Bulgaria's president called on the government Wednesday to step down, echoing the demands of protesters demanding the resignations of the prime minister and the chief prosecutor over … Protesters clashed with security forces in Sofia on Wednesday, September 2, the 56th consecutive day anti-government protests in Bulgaria, resulting in dozens of casualties and arrests. Sign up to receive the press review as a free newsletter, Don't leave vaccination to Moscow and Beijing, Image as servant of the people severely tarnished, The right choice, but only for a short time, All together instead of everyone for himself, Süddeutscher Verlag / Südwestdeutsche Medien Holding, Il nuovo manifesto società coop. security BGR Event. Associated Press; Last Updated: September 02, 2020, 17:03 IST; FOLLOW US ON: … The prosecutors' board and members of th… The response from Brussels and the German EU presidency has been restrained so far but this could now change, some commentators believe. By David Walsh with AP : 03/09/2020 – 20:18. The banners asking the EU and especially Chancellor Merkel why they are ignoring the state of democracy in Bulgaria were published in the international press and shown on television in many European news programmes. Bulgaria PM Replaces Justice Minister amid Protests. However, the prime minister and the chief prosecutorrefused to resign. Berlin keeps this bloc of votes united and in a good mood whenever possible. Gendarmes arrest a protester during an anti-government protest held in front of the Parliament building in Sofia, Bulgaria, 2 September 2020. IPI calls for police restraint after string of incidents against media workers. The president called on lawmakers to dismiss Borissov’s plans to amend the constitution. By. The protests in Bulgaria clearly open the debate whether the rule of law remains the central shared value for all Europeans. Below average 2020 wine production destined for volatile and uncertain global market . ... Bulgaria, 02 September 2020. Ruling party rejects calls for resignation as rallies continue. EPA-EFE/Borislav Troshev. According to a survey conducted before the protests by the agency Sova, Borisov's GERB leads in the polls and would obtain 21.3% of the vote, BSP 12%, MRF 5%, and Democratic Bulgaria 2.4%. , September 2, 2020, 9:56 PM PDT. The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today expressed concern over escalating … A protester holds a poster in front of the German Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. Short URL| Email Article| Comment| Contact| Print| A A . People shout slogans during an anti-government protest held in front of the Parliament building in Sofia, Bulgaria, 2020. Over the past four days, Bulgaria has been shaken by a wave of anti-government protests with thousands marching through the capital Sofia “against a mafia model of governance”. This talk is a comprehensive overview about yet another tumult: the protests that occured in Bulgaria in 2020, months of demonstrations against an European Union member state government that were largely unacknowledged in the rest of the EU - from the perspective of an expat and an involved small scale … “Not the lack of a new constitution brought the people on the streets, but rather the lack of morality in the leadership, the erosion of statehood and the corruption,” Radev said. They are encouraged by President Rumen Radev, who has called for the expulsion of the mafia from the executive and the judiciary, as well as EU member states to express a position on the situation in the country, which is growing into a constitutional crisis. Bulgaria protests: PM Borissov ‘pouring oil in the fire’ with plans to change the constitution. “There is no way of emerging from this dead-end street other than peacefully, with the usual political act of resigning when confidence is lost,” Radev said. Last modified on Mon 24 Aug 2020 20.04 EDT. Thu 20 Aug 2020 06.53 EDT. on Bulgaria’s protests and the hunting of Hippoland. Kapital (BG) / 04 September 2020 We're finally in the headlines After almost two months, the protests in Bulgaria have taken a decisive step forward, Kapital notes with enthusiasm: “The angry message is slowly making an impact beyond Bulgaria. FILE PHOTO: People take part in an anti-government demonstration in Sofia, Bulgaria, September 2, 2020. Journalists detained, tear gassed covering protests in Bulgaria. SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s embattled Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Thursday replaced the minister of justice, a move that is unlikely to appease protesters calling for nearly two months for the whole government … All the major foreign media outlets and news agencies are now covering what is happening in Bulgaria and why. Dozens Detained as Bulgarian Protesters Clash With Police. Below average 2020 wine production destined for volatile and uncertain global market . SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s president called on the government Wednesday to step down, echoing the demands of protesters demanding the resignations of the prime minister and the chief prosecutor over allegations they allowed an oligarchic mafia to seize control of the Balkan country. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov had offered to have his government resign in reaction to the protests, but so far he has not made good. On Wednesday, September 2, police reportedly utilized pepper-spray to disperse protesters that had gathered in central Sofia in front of parliament. People gathered at antigovernment protest near the National Assembly building on September 22, 2020 in Sofia, Bulgaria. After earlier statements indicating he might step down, Borissov now says he is answering protesters’ demands for a restart of the political system by launching a contentious revision of the Bulgarian Constitution. Eleven of the twenty-seven EU member states are governed by EPP members. Officers also used pepper spray. This has had a decisive effect: the European institutions and the countries that wield most influence are being forced to look at the long-neglected situation in the EU's poorest and most corrupt country.”. Protest against Boyko Borisov's government and its links to oligarchs have been taking place in Sofia for eight weeks now. Is escalation … The aftermath of Day 56 of mass protests in Bulgaria demanding the resignations of the government of Boyko Borissov and General Prosecutor Ivan Geshev is rather gruesome. Riots broke out during protests against the Bulgarian government in Sofia on Wednesday. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung explains why the EU is being lenient with the Bulgarian government: “Boyko Borisov's Gerb party belongs to the family of the European People's Party (EPP) and thus has powerful advocates not only in Brussels, but also in Berlin. Subscribe to our free press review and stay up to date. Latvia’s 3Q20 GDP fell by 3.1% y/y. The mass protests erupted after the Prosecutor’s Office physically raided Bulgaria’s Presidency and arrested two of President Rumen Radev’s associates on questionable charges. SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s president called on the government Wednesday to step down, echoing the demands of protesters demanding the resignations of the prime minister and the chief prosecutor over allegations they allowed an oligarchic mafia to seize control of the Balkan country. Photo: EPA-EFE/Borislav Troshev ... September 1, 2020. Bulgaria PM replaces justice minister amid protests Bulgaria’s embattled Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has replaced the minister of justice ... September 3, 2020, 11:01 PM • 2 min read. The biggest demonstration so far in nearly two months of anti-government rallies drew thousands of people into the streets of Bulgaria’s capital. Tags: Bulgaria | Protests. An estimated 90,000 to 100,000 people gathered to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's government, as well as the resignation of chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev. The protests began on 9 July 2020. 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