Mass Rally against Bulgarian Utilities Mauls Politicians' Portraits in Plovdiv

"EVN Out of Bulgaria", reads a banner raised by a protester in Plovdiv. Photo by Plovdiv24.com

Some 7 000 protesters flocked to a mass rally against power utilities in the Southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv on Sunday.

The Plovdiv rally far surpassed the rally against the electricity distribution companies and heating utilities in Sofia, which was attended by fewer than 1 000.

The rallies in Plovdiv and Sofia come as part of the ongoing protests against Bulgaria's three power utilities – CEZ, EVN, and Energo-Pro – in the last week over excessive electricity prices.

"They must be the ones to pay," read the banners with the portraits of Bulgarian politicians carried by the Plovdiv protesters.

The portraits of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, ex EU Commissioner Melgena Kuneva (currently leader of the Bulgaria for Citizens movement), former Energy Minister Rumen Ovcharov, and former Interior Minister Rumen Petkov (the last two belonging to the now opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party which presided over the privatization of the power utilities in 2005-2009) were targeted with eggs by the protesters, and were then torn up, the Focus news agency reported.

"United for a New Bulgaria", and "It is up to us how we are going to live", were other slogans raised by the protesters.

The protesters in Plovdiv vowed to keep up the rallies against the local power utility EVN every work day at 5 pm before the EVN building, and at 11 am on weekends.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!