🔺 What to do when markets are at an all-time high? Find smart bargains, like these.See Undervalued Shares

Weary of promises, Bulgarians protest against COVID curbs, inflation

Published 23/02/2022, 13:56
© Reuters. People participate in a rally against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) government measures, organised by the ultranationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party, in Sofia, Bulgaria, February 23, 2022. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
IX
-

SOFIA (Reuters) - About 1,000 Bulgarian demonstrators gathered in downtown Sofia on Wednesday to protest against curbs imposed to combat COVID-19 and rampant inflation at a rally organised by the opposition ultra-nationalist Revival party.

Holding banners reading "I want a normal life," and "COVID is a tyranny, not a pandemic" the demonstrators booed as Prime Minister Kiril Petkov addressed them.

Bulgaria, where scepticism about vaccines and entrenched distrust of government institutions has meant fewer than one in three adults are inoculated against the coronavirus, has seen infections drop in recent weeks after they peaked at the end of January, prompting the government to start easing restrictions.

But Wednesday's protesters demanded that the compulsory health pass to access leisure venues and testing for the virus in schools as well as wearing of face masks in enclosed spaces be scrapped immediately.

"First the green certificates: they say they will lift them. This is a promise I do not believe," said teacher Galya Nedialkova, who also criticised the sharp rise in prices. "How do you think people on the minimum wage are living?... I am here because I am angry."

Annual consumer price inflation, fuelled by a spike in energy costs, jumped to a 13-year high of 9.1% in January. The government has frozen electricity prices for households and sees inflation easing in the second half of 2022.

Petkov's centrist government took office in December after widespread anger over high-level corruption ended the more than decade-long premiership of Boyko Borissov.

© Reuters. People participate in a rally against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) government measures, organised by the ultranationalist Vazrazhdane (Revival) party, in Sofia, Bulgaria, February 23, 2022. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

Petkov, who plans to abolish the health pass on March 20, appealed to protesters to set their frustrations to one side.

"For 13 years, you have been robbed, until now. Our health system is in shambles. If we do not work together to fix the country, we stand no chance," he said, noting that the health pass system was linked to the number of people in intensive care units.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.