Bulgaria FinMin Effigy Leads Huge Rally аgainst Retirement Reform

"You should not believe the liar, even when he is telling the truth," it was written on the effigy. To the left - pictures of MPs who are in favor of the retirement reform. BGNES

Tens of housands of Bulgarians gathered in the country's capital Sofia on Wednesday to protest against the government's planned changes in the retirement system.

Around noon, the city's downtown was blocked by protesters, many of whom had arrived from other cities and towns across the country, news agencies report.

One of the two groups of protesters, the one organized by the KNSB labor union, launched its rally from Sofia's Macedonia and was "lead" by an effigy representing Bulgarian Financial Minister Simeon Djankov.

"You should not believe the liar, even when he is telling the through," it was written on the effigy.

The protesters organized by the Podkrepa labor union marched from the National Stadium to the National Assembly square in Sofia, where they met with the KNSB protesters, the two rallies gathering a total of approximately 30 000 people, the BGNES news agency reports.

The syndicates are outraged by the controversial and sudden increase of retirement age and eliminating years of service in determining wages of State servants – both brainchildren of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov.

The rally coincided with the ongoing strike at the heavily-indebted Bulgarian State Railways, BDZ Holding.

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