Large public protests across Bulgaria forced the resignation of the entire government on February 20, 2013 after clashes with the police. On March 12, the Bulgarian president will appoint a caretaker government until snap elections can be held on May 12. The protestors are demanding changes to the constitution so that Bulgaria can become a “partyless” democracy.

Many protesters want the politicians who have ruled their country since 1989 to go on trial for corruption and theft of state funds. People are fed up with all of Bulgaria’s established political parties, and are trying to abolish the current system of proportional representation in the country’s parliament.

“Bulgaria wants: morality, nature, solidarity!”

“Stop the demographic catastrophe and genocide in Bulgaria.” Bulgaria has one of the lowest birthrates in Europe. Its population has been shrinking steadily for the last 25 years, due in part to the ongoing economic uncertainty that followed the collapse of communism in 1989.

“We won’t pay monopolistic prices.” The protests began when Bulgarians got their winter electricity bills in February. One Austrian and two Czech firms control electricity distribution in Bulgaria. They have divided Bulgaria into three regions over which they each have a monopoly. Protesters are demanding re-nationalization of all utilities.

“A future for the young people.” Youth unemployment rates are high and many young Bulgarians flee their country to work in Western Europe. Although it joined the European Union in 2007, wages in Bulgaria are lower than in any other member state.

This protester asked the crowd to go to the Central Train Station in Sofia to protest the privatization of parts of the Bulgaria State Railways.

A father and son at the March 10th protest. The Minister of Interior outraged the public by asserting that about half of the protesters were drug dealers and criminals.

A Protester wearing the colors of the Bulgarian flag.