Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets of the capital Sofia and other major cities to protest against the government's plans to introduce the euro and demand a referendum on the new currency.
The protesters, led by nationalist parties and civic associations, sang patriotic songs and chanted slogans such as “Freedom for the Bulgarian Lev” and “The future belongs to sovereign states.”
The anti-Europe rally comes four days before the Balkan country is expected to receive approval from Brussels to join the eurozone.
Participants in the demonstration in Sofia held flags of the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party and a huge banner with the inscription “The battle for the Bulgarian lion is the last battle for Bulgaria.”
Thanks to a heavy police presence, the protest passed off peacefully.
Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and remains one of its poorest members, suffering from years of instability that has exacerbated Euroscepticism among its 6.4 million citizens.
Disinformation campaigns both at home and abroad have heightened fears about economic changes that could lead to greater poverty.
President Rumen Radev has thrown his weight behind euro opponents by proposing a referendum on the currency earlier this month, citing public concerns about inflation and purchasing power.
His proposal was rejected by the pro-European majority in parliament, which accused him of acting in Moscow's interests by trying at the last minute to undermine the introduction of the euro, which is aimed at deepening European integration amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
