Bulgarians protest for 6th day in row, urge PM resignation

Thousands of people in Bulgaria have held demonstrations for a sixth consecutive day, calling on the new Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski to step down.

The protesters rallied outside the government headquarters in the capital, Sofia, on Wednesday while chanting “Mafia!” “Red garbage!” and “Resignation!”

Some 600 nationalists also gathered outside the parliament, demanding new elections.

The demonstrations came after Oresharski appointed controversial media mogul as the country’s national security chief.

Oresharski, who took office three weeks ago, has reversed his decision and apologized on Wednesday.

“I made a political mistake and I apologize not only to you but to all the people who came out to protest,” the Prime minister said.

Oresharski also said he had no intention of resigning, noting that his departure would only worsen the country’s economic and social conditions.

The protesters, however, continued their demonstrations across the country, raising fear of another political crisis in the country that led to the resignation of the former government around four months ago.

On Monday, eight people were injured as stones and bottles flew between demonstrators and ultra-nationalists at the end of a rally outside the government headquarters.

The protests were triggered on June 14, after the two-week-old Socialist-led government quickly approved Oresharski’s nomination of Delyan Peevski as the chief of Bulgaria’s National Security Agency (DANS).

Shortly after the approval, President Rosen Plevneliev said he had lost confidence in the government and demanded an immediate review of the controversial appointment.

The appointment was controversial since Peevski runs one of the country’s major media groups and has no experience in national security.

In February, the country’s previous conservative-led government was forced to resign after massive protests were held against high-energy bills and low salaries in the poorest EU member state.