Thursday, February 21, 2013



Bulgaria's government falls to austerity

Like most European governments, Bulgaria's government responded to the great Financial Crisis with cuts, austerity and privatisations. As a result, they've been facing an increasing series of protests. And now they've finally been forced from office:

Bulgaria's government has announced it is resigning after nationwide protests against high electricity prices and austerity measures, Prime Minister Boiko Borisov has said.

The PM said he had decided to go after protesters against rising electricity prices clashed with police in Sofia.

At least 14 people were injured during Tuesday's demonstrations.

"I will not participate in a government under which police are beating people," Mr Borisov said.


Elections scheduled for July will now be brought forward to early April.

There's a long background here of corrupt, self-serving politicians who enriched themselves off the transition to capitalism while doing nothing for their people, leading Bulgaria to be one of the poorest countries in the EU. And now they've finally reached breaking point. But while they've successfully driven the government from office, they still face the problem of who to replace them with. If all your politicians are crooks, who is there to vote for?

[More on European Tribune]