Bulgarian Liberals Back Protesting Tobacco Growers

Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Lyutvi Mestan. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria’s liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms party has declared its support for the latest protest staged by tobacco growers in the country.

On Monday, some 200 protesting tobacco growers briefly blocked an international road to Turkey near the southern Bulgarian town of Harmanli.

The demonstration was triggered by the delay of the purchase of 'Basma-type' tobacco and the fact that its price has dropped by BGN 2 compared to last year.

MRF leader Lyutvi Mestan told Btv that the tobacco growers’ demands are “just.”

Mestan, whose party is part of the ruling Socialist-led coalition, blamed the situation on the previous center-right GERB government.

He argued that the Bulgarian legislation no longer guarantees the beginning and the end of the tobacco purchasing season.

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