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Students from the Sofia-based University of National and World Economy have joined the nationwide anti-government occupy protest movement.
“We hereby declare our full, firm and unshakable support for the occupation of the Sofia University rectorate, as well as the actions of the students from the New Bulgarian University, the Veliko Tarnovo University, the National Academy of Art, the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, the Medical University, the Technical University and the other universities,” UNWE students said in a declaration on Tuesday.
“We join the demands for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski,” they said.
The students thus expressed their support for their colleagues who have blocked access to Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" since last week, demanding the dissolution of Parliament and calling for new elections and criticizing what they call "widespread criminal lawlessness in the highest levels of government".
On Monday, several other universities in Sofia, and across the country, initiated their own occupations in support of the movement.
The protests were triggered by the Constitutional Court’s controversial decision to confirm the status of notorious media mogul Delyan Peevski as Member of Parliament earlier in October.
On June 14, Peevski was elected and swore in as chair of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security, a move that prompted massive anti-corruption protests in EU’s poorest member state.
The appointment was canceled, but protesters proceeded to demand the government’s resignation over its suspected ties with oligarchs. The demonstrations were later fueled by a number of other controversial appointments and by wider concerns about corruption.
Plamen Oresharski, who took over as Prime Minister at the end of May, is a former Vice President of the University of National and World Economy.
Brussels has unofficially warned Bulgaria’s Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova that the country’s euro adoption process could be suspended, according to BGNES, citing Nova TV.
"Everyone wants positions – in regulatory bodies and ministries," he emphasized.
Bulgaria’s toll system now has the technical capability to track average vehicle speeds, as announced by the National Toll Management following a meeting with Regional Development Minister Violeta Koritarova.
The income required to cover living expenses for a working individual and a three-member family with a child under 14 has remained almost unchanged compared to June, according to an analysis by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CI
The Council of Ministers has adopted a resolution to set the minimum wage at 1,077 leva, reflecting a 15.
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