Bulgarian Socialists' leader has defended the new government his party heads as thousands of protesters have been rallying for days, calling for its resignation.

“The reason for the protests is the previous authoritarian ruling of the rightist party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB,” Sergey Stanishev said in an interview for the Austrian newspaper “Die Presse.”

“In today’s Bulgarian society nerves are strained and if a nerve is wrongly touched, the reaction is very strong,” he said in connection to the outrageous appointment of media mogul and politician Delyan Peevski for the Head of “National Security” state agency.

Stanishev stressed that there is a difference between the situation in Sofia and outside it –in the cities, towns and villages outside the capital people are not protesting. 

Stanishev also said that the government “learned their lesson” after the appointment of Peevski.

“Now it is important to pay attention to the real issues – how to decrease electricity prices, fight with poverty, how to revive the economy – this is all on PM Oresharski’s list,” Stanishev said.

He said that the government is supported by the Socialists and by the predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedom, but not by the nationalists from Ataka.

Stansihev claimed he is not bothered by the fact that other socialists, such as Rumen Petkov, dispute his leadership.

“Mr. Petkov’s screaming can only strengthen my position in the party,” he stated.