Latest news with #Bulgarian
DW
2 hours ago
- Business
- DW
Bulgarian nationalists march against euro currency adoption – DW – 05/31/2025
Fears that the it will harm the economy, coupled with a mistrust of institutions has led many to oppose the euro. Disinformartion campaigns have muddled the debate over Bulgaria's economic transition. Thousands gathered in Bulgaria's capital Sofia and other major cities on Saturday to reject the country's plans to adopt the euro, the latest move by the eastern European country to strengthen its status in the European Union. Critics of the move are demanding that the government call for a referendum over whether the country should abandon the lev and adopt the euro as its currency. It comes months after Bulgaria, along with Romania, were admitted to the Schengen area. Demonstrators in Sofia carried flags of the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party. A large banner read "The battle for the Bulgarian lev is the last battle for Bulgaria." Civic groups and nationalist parties organized the protest, leading the march singing patriotic songs and shouting slogans like "The future belongs to sovereign states." Bulgaria, which joined the European Union in 2007 and remains its poorest member, is expected to get approval from Brussels in June to adopt the euro. Disinformation campaigns stoke fear Fears that the euro will harm Bulgaria's economy, coupled with a mistrust of institutions after years of instability, has led many to oppose the upcoming changes. Several recent surveys showed nearly half of those questioned said they were opposed to Bulgaria joining the eurozone. Some people, particularly those in small towns and rural areas, are reluctant to adopt the single currency, with some of them having never traveled abroad and not used to international transactions. Disinformation campaigns from home and abroad have sought to stoke fears that the economic changes will bring more poverty. Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 but kept using its own currency, the lev Image: Valentina Petrova/AP Photo/picture alliance Bulgarian president rejects euro Among those who are against the adoption of the euro as currency is Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. He had proposed the referendum on the currency earlier this month, citing public concerns over inflation and purchasing power. Radev also said the government had not implemented needed measures to allow the "most vulnerable" to withstand the shock of euro adoption. The pro-European majority in Bulgaria's parliament rejected the referendum proposal, accusing Radev of acting on behalf of Russia. Edited by: Zac Crellin
Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Bulgarian nationalists protest over government plans to adopt euro currency
The protesters, led by civic groups and nationalist parties, sang patriotic songs and shouted slogans like 'Freedom for the Bulgarian lev' and 'The future belongs to sovereign states'. The anti-euro rally came four days before the Balkan country is expected to receive the green light from Brussels to enter the eurozone. Demonstrators in Sofia carried flags of the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party and a huge banner that read 'The battle for the Bulgarian lev is the last battle for Bulgaria'. A protester holding a Russian flag (Valentina Petrova/AP) An increased police presence kept the protest peaceful. Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and remains one of its poorest members, plagued by years of instability which has fuelled Euroscepticism among its 6.4 million citizens. Disinformation campaigns from home and abroad have added fears of economic changes that could bring more poverty. President Rumen Radev encouraged the anti-euro voices by proposing earlier this month a referendum on the currency, citing public concerns over inflation and purchasing power. The proposal was turned down by the pro-European majority in parliament, which accused him of acting in favour of Moscow with his last-minute attempt to sabotage the euro adoption, which is aimed at deepening European integration amid growing geopolitical tensions.
Belfast Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Bulgarian nationalists protest over government plans to adopt euro currency
The protesters, led by civic groups and nationalist parties, sang patriotic songs and shouted slogans like 'Freedom for the Bulgarian lev' and 'The future belongs to sovereign states'. The anti-euro rally came four days before the Balkan country is expected to receive the green light from Brussels to enter the eurozone. Demonstrators in Sofia carried flags of the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party and a huge banner that read 'The battle for the Bulgarian lev is the last battle for Bulgaria'. An increased police presence kept the protest peaceful. Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and remains one of its poorest members, plagued by years of instability which has fuelled Euroscepticism among its 6.4 million citizens. Disinformation campaigns from home and abroad have added fears of economic changes that could bring more poverty. President Rumen Radev encouraged the anti-euro voices by proposing earlier this month a referendum on the currency, citing public concerns over inflation and purchasing power. The proposal was turned down by the pro-European majority in parliament, which accused him of acting in favour of Moscow with his last-minute attempt to sabotage the euro adoption, which is aimed at deepening European integration amid growing geopolitical tensions.
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Bulgarian nationalists protest over government plans to adopt euro currency
The protesters, led by civic groups and nationalist parties, sang patriotic songs and shouted slogans like 'Freedom for the Bulgarian lev' and 'The future belongs to sovereign states'. The anti-euro rally came four days before the Balkan country is expected to receive the green light from Brussels to enter the eurozone. Demonstrators in Sofia carried flags of the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party and a huge banner that read 'The battle for the Bulgarian lev is the last battle for Bulgaria'. An increased police presence kept the protest peaceful. Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and remains one of its poorest members, plagued by years of instability which has fuelled Euroscepticism among its 6.4 million citizens. Disinformation campaigns from home and abroad have added fears of economic changes that could bring more poverty. President Rumen Radev encouraged the anti-euro voices by proposing earlier this month a referendum on the currency, citing public concerns over inflation and purchasing power. The proposal was turned down by the pro-European majority in parliament, which accused him of acting in favour of Moscow with his last-minute attempt to sabotage the euro adoption, which is aimed at deepening European integration amid growing geopolitical tensions.
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Bulgarian nationalists protest over government plans to adopt euro currency
The protesters, led by civic groups and nationalist parties, sang patriotic songs and shouted slogans like 'Freedom for the Bulgarian lev' and 'The future belongs to sovereign states'. The anti-euro rally came four days before the Balkan country is expected to receive the green light from Brussels to enter the eurozone. Demonstrators in Sofia carried flags of the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party and a huge banner that read 'The battle for the Bulgarian lev is the last battle for Bulgaria'. An increased police presence kept the protest peaceful. Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and remains one of its poorest members, plagued by years of instability which has fuelled Euroscepticism among its 6.4 million citizens. Disinformation campaigns from home and abroad have added fears of economic changes that could bring more poverty. President Rumen Radev encouraged the anti-euro voices by proposing earlier this month a referendum on the currency, citing public concerns over inflation and purchasing power. The proposal was turned down by the pro-European majority in parliament, which accused him of acting in favour of Moscow with his last-minute attempt to sabotage the euro adoption, which is aimed at deepening European integration amid growing geopolitical tensions.
