A protesting police officer shows his torn boots during the "water drinking" rally 2 500 Bulgarian policemen staged Sunday to demand better working conditions. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)
Bulgaria's Interior Minister Mihail Mikov stated Sunday the policemen's protests in downtown Sofia had been organized by the GERB party, which sought to achieve specific political goals.
Almost 2 500 policemen gathered earlier on Sunday before the Interior Ministry building demanding improved working conditions while drinking mineral water. Last Saturday the number of the officers who took part in the "smoking" protest reached 4 000.
As Sunday's protest was not supported by the Policemen's Syndicate (unlike the previous one which organized by the Union), the Minister pointed out the lack of legitimate unionist representation as a major issue in negotiating with the protesters and meeting their demands.
Some of the protesting policemen on Sunday even called for the resignation of the leader of their syndicate Emil Rashev.
Minister Mikov said the only way to raise the policemen's salaries was to make a certain number of officers redundant. In his words, the Christmas bonuses of BGN 400 that each policeman would receive cost the Ministry BGN 22 M. Of these, BGN 8 M came from economizing on other aspects of the Ministry's work.
The protesters demanded Sunday general wage increase rather than one-time bonuses, overtime payments, new uniforms, and further legislative changes to enhance their legal status, and provide them with proper legal protection.