Bulgarian nationalists protest government plans to adopt the euro currency

Thousands of flag-waving Bulgarians took to the streets of the capital, Sofia, and different large cities connected Saturday to protestation authorities plans to follow the euro and to request a referendum connected the caller currency.

The protesters, led by civic groups and nationalist parties, sang patriotic songs and shouted slogans similar "Freedom for the Bulgarian lev" and "The aboriginal belongs to sovereign states." The anti-euro rally came 4 days earlier the Balkan state is expected to person greenish airy from Brussels to participate the eurozone. The demonstrators successful Sofia carried flags of the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane enactment and a immense banner that work "The conflict for the Bulgarian lev is the past conflict for Bulgaria." An accrued constabulary beingness kept the protestation peaceful. Bulgaria joined the European Union successful 2007 and remains of its poorest members, plagued by years of instability that has fueled euroscepticism among its 6.4 cardinal citizens. Disinformation campaigns from location and overseas person added fears of economical changes that could bring much poverty. President Rumen Radev encouraged the anti-euro voices by proposing earlier this period a referendum connected the currency, citing nationalist concerns implicit ostentation and purchasing power.

The connection was turned down by the pro-European bulk successful parliament, which accused Radev of acting successful favour of Moscow with his last-minute effort to sabotage the euro adoption, aimed astatine deepening European integration amid increasing geopolitical tensions.