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Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets on Friday to demand higher wages to make up for soaring inflation in the EU’s poorest member state.
The demonstrations were organized by the country’s two largest unions. As winter approaches, protesters have gathered in front of the parliament building, holding banners and chanting for decent wages.
Unions have presented a joint statement to parliament calling for the swift passage of next year’s budget to avoid the risk of freezing the minimum wage at current levels amid inflation, and to support large numbers of people facing energy poverty ahead of the heating season, as well as to protect labor rights of workers.
Emergency doctor Marina Yovcheva joined the protests, demanding an increase in her salary.
“We protest because our work is hard. I’m an emergency room doctor and I want decent pay for what I do,” she said.
Bulgaria is run by a caretaker cabinet with limited powers as the country completes its fourth general election in less than two years. It has once again produced a fragmented parliament and so far futile efforts to piece together a viable coalition will continue to plague the country’s political gridlock.
Lyuboslav Kostov, the independent union’s chief economic expert, urged lawmakers to do their job and form a government to submit next year’s state budget. He explained that if the country wants to join the euro zone on January 1, 2024, the new budget must include an increase in the minimum wage.
The protests continued, with more than 1,000 cars driving down the main avenues of the capital Sofia, causing heavy traffic jams.
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