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Bulgarian government resigns amid protests over high electricity costs | Bulgarian government resigns amid protests over high electricity costs |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Bulgaria's government has resigned from office on Wednesday/yesterday after nationwide protests against high electricity prices and austerity measures. | |
The prime minister, Boiko Borisov, had tried to calm protests by sacking his finance minister and pledging to cut power prices and punish foreign-owned companies, but the moves failed to defuse discontent, and demonstrations continued on Tuesday. | |
Many Bulgarians are deeply unhappy about high energy costs, power monopolies, low living standards and corruption in the European Union's poorest country. Twenty-five people were taken to hospital after protesters clashed with police late on Tuesday. | Many Bulgarians are deeply unhappy about high energy costs, power monopolies, low living standards and corruption in the European Union's poorest country. Twenty-five people were taken to hospital after protesters clashed with police late on Tuesday. |
"I will not participate in a government under which police are beating people," Borisov said as he announced his resignation. | |
He did not say whether a parliamentary election scheduled for July would now be brought forward. | |
Borisov has said the electricity distribution licence of central Europe's largest listed company, Czech-based CEZ will be revoked, setting Bulgaria on a collision course with the Czech Republic. | Borisov has said the electricity distribution licence of central Europe's largest listed company, Czech-based CEZ will be revoked, setting Bulgaria on a collision course with the Czech Republic. |
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