“There is a people's will. The people's will is currently saying categorically: we do not want the Bulgarian lev to be destroyed. We want to preserve the Bulgarian currency. We want to preserve the freedom of Bulgaria.“, Kostadin Kostadinov said in an interview. Today, in front of the National Assembly in Sofia, nearly 50,000 people peacefully protested against the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria. Demonstrations were also held in over 150 cities in the country, uniting over 200,000 citizens in defense of the national currency.
The chairman of “Vazrazhdane“ was categorical that what is happening in the country is not just political tension, but something much deeper:
“The desire of 80% of Bulgarian citizens to be asked and the reluctance of 80% of Bulgarian citizens to forcibly accept a foreign currency in Bulgaria… I cannot understand - are we the only ones from “Vazrazhdane“ who realize that a coup d'état is currently taking place in our country, anti-democratic, even anti-European?“
He also sharply criticized the actions of the rulers, who, in his words, are acting in the shadows, with pressure and fear, led by external forces.
“This is not according to the rules of the European Union. Therefore, I want to address an appeal to our so-called partners - do not cut the chair on which sit down! If Bulgaria is forced into the eurozone, it will turn into an open, bleeding ulcer.“
According to him, the police's reaction during the protest is alarming. “People have been detained, including elderly women, whose handbags were searched. Perhaps they expected to find grenades in them? Warning protocols are being written arbitrarily, cars heading to Sofia are being stopped, there are checkpoints and roadblocks. This is police arbitrariness in real time.“
Kostadinov stressed that such a regime of pressure and oppression has already exceeded the limits of legality and democracy: “In practice, there is no longer parliamentary democracy in Bulgaria. There is pure European fascism.“
The chairman of “Vazrazhdane“ also made one of the most shocking comparisons: “We were under Soviet domination for 45 years. And We are currently seeing that the EU is behaving much more totalitarian than the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union did not have its own troops in Bulgaria. It did not impose bills. And now every week we vote on things imposed by the EU.“
He reminded that the political organization has consistently fought against the introduction of the euro:
“I will remind you that back in 2018 we were collecting signatures. We were protesting before we were in parliament, we are still doing it now. There is no date from which you have or do not have the right to protest. The only thing we want is for democracy to be preserved.“
Kostadin Kostadinov announced that a visit by a European Commissioner is expected on Wednesday, which, according to him, is accompanied by exceptional security measures that show panic among those in power. “It is obvious that they are very scared. From Monday to Friday, outsiders will be banned from entering the parliament, even and official cars will not be allowed. This is an unprecedented isolation and a clear sign of the fear that has gripped them. But they cannot forbid us from being here.“
Kostadinov announced that on Wednesday, at 8:30 a.m., there will be another large-scale mobilization in front of the National Assembly to block the institution's work during the visit of the European Commissioners. “We will wait for them. So that they can see the true face of Bulgaria - not those who kiss their hands in the corridors of Brussels, but Bulgarians who no longer want to be treated as subjects. We are citizens.“
He concluded with the words: “The referendum must be held. If it is not held, it means a false and illegal entry into the eurozone. This will be a much bigger problem for the eurozone itself than the European officials can imagine.“