Bulgarian Industrialists Call Urgent Meeting over Controversial National Security Chief

The Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIBG) is calling an urgent meeting to discuss the situation surrounding the election of a Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS).

The extraordinary sitting is scheduled for June 19, and is to be attended by leaders of branch organizations participating in CEIBG, according to a media statement of the confederation.

The participants in the extraordinary meeting are to discuss the impact of the controversial election of a DANS Chair on the business sector.

After the discussion, the CEIBG is to come up with a stance on the matter.

On Friday, Bulgaria's Parliament appointed Delyan Peevski, media mogul and MP of ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), as head of DANS, stirring a wave of protests across the country.

The step caused President Rosen Plevneliev to ask MPs to reconsider their decision and to call an extraordinary meeting of the Consultative Council for National Security on June 20.

On Saturday, Peevski issued a statement saying that he was ready to step down "in the name of citizens, society and the state."

However, the move failed to curb the massive peaceful protests in the country, with thousands gathering in Sofia and other major cities for a second day on Saturday.

Many protesters demanded the resignation of the Socialist-led government of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, which took over at the end of May.

Bulgarians are gearing up for fresh protests on Sunday over the controversial appointment.

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