Plovdiv Residents Rise against New Governor

Dozens of people gathered outside the building of the regional administration in Plovdiv to protest against the inauguration of the new governor Ventsislav Kaymakanov.

Media reports that Kaymakanov is part of the predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedom (DPS) provoked the protest.

A police cordon was guarding the entrance of the building at "Nikola Mushanov" Square, the "Focus" news agency reported.

Kaymakanov said that he was inside the building of the regional administration since 7.00 am and that he was willing to talk to protesters inside the building.

Protesters insisted that he goes down and meets them. They were shouting "Red Trash!" and "Kaymakanov out!"

Kaymakanov appeared for a minute, but was booed and chased away. After that he went back to the building.

He said before journalists that he wanted to dispel the myth that his appointment was imposed on Plovdiv people by party headquarters, namely DPS.

Kaymakanov reiterated he is not a member of any party and he believed the management of the Plovdiv region should be fair, honest and non-partisan.

The new governor stated Monday that he is not a party appointment but that the Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, invited him because of his management skills.

DPS Chairman Lyutvi Mestan explained that Kaymakanov got "the sticky label" that he is from his party and that this was deeply unfair. Mestan added he simply agreed to the proposal of the Prime Minister to appoint Kaymakanov.

"BSP in Plovdiv does not agree with Kaymakanov's appointment. It was not coordinated with the district BSP leadership and apparently someone misled Oresharski to think that the nomination was consensual," BSP leader in Plovdiv Georgi Gergov said.

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