The 57th night of anti-government protests has passed without escalating tensions in Bulgaria as prime minister Boyko Borissov insists on his plans to push through controversial new constitutional reforms rejected strongly by opposition.
Shortly after 7 p.m. on Thursday police withdrew and allowed protesters to close Dondukov Boulevard. The action was greeted with applause.
Late last night, protesters again pitched tents on Eagle Bridge, and organizers announced that the blockades would be resumed.
Thus, after the traditional procession from Independence Square to the Eagle Bridge, people symbolically left two tents on Tsarigradsko Shosse.
PM Borissov is “only pouring oil in the fire” with his plans to push through controversial new constitutional reforms, an opposition leader has said as was quoted by euronews.com on Friday.
Hristo Ivanov, the leader of the Yes, Bulgaria! party, told Euronews that the prime minister’s plans to amend the constitution had already “reached a dead end”, saying he is unlikely to secure the 160 votes he needs in parliament to push through the final changes.
The government secured a majority in parliament on Wednesday to initiate debates on a revised draft of the constitution in an attempt to appease public anger, the same day violence broke out on the streets of the capital Sofia at one of the largest demonstrations in nearly 60 days of anti-government protests.
During a protest on Thursday night, police briefly cordoned off a perimeter around the Archaeological Museum. According to NOVA, a Molotov cocktail was found during the search. The services suggest that a provocation is being prepared again./argumentum.al
