Bulgarian Farmers, Students Rally Over Pay, Crime, page 1

Bulgarian Farmers, Students Rally Over Pay, Crime

www.abovetopsecret.com

Thousands of Bulgarian farmers and students marched in Sofia on Friday, demanding the government resign over low state subsidies and its failure to curb crime and graft.

Pressure is growing on the Socialist-led government to deal with economic problems in the face of the global financial crisis and to deliver results in its fight against corruption and crime months before next summer's parliamentary election.

More than 1,000 grain producers brought some 200 tractors and other agricultural machinery near parliament to press for higher subsidies next year to cope with the economic slowdown. However, most MPs had left to start their Christmas holidays.

"We face bankruptcies," said Vasil Dimitrov, 35, a farmer from the Black Sea Burgas region. "All these tractors have been bought with credit and banks have already started pressing us."

The farmers, waving banners that said "Stop lying", called for the government to step down over delayed subsidies for 2008.

Opinion polls show 75 percent of the population disapprove of parliament's work and two-thirds want the government to go, citing a lack of progress in its anti-corruption fight.

"It's better for the government to disappear. It is unable to run the country," said Alexander Dimashki, 61, of the northern town of Pleven. "Corruption has taken over."

Interesting to see how this develops.

Also, here's another source with a different slant on it.

Demonstrations of eco activists, students and grain-producers ...
international.ibox.bg...

[edit on 19-12-2008 by warrenb]