(Vatican Radio) Tens of thousands of people have protested across Bulgaria against
poverty and corruption. The latest demonstrations came despite the resignation of
the government and promises of early elections. Waving flags and chanting slogans
against the ruling elite, demonstrators in Bulgaria's capital Sofia and other major
cities used a national holiday to ask attention for deep rooted grievances. Besides
shouting against poverty and corruption, they also demanded legislative amendments
to allow the participation of common citizens in politics. The protests followed
earlier massive demonstrations Last month, people were shouting "Mafia, Mafia",
amid outrage over rising electricity prices by as much as 13 percent in what is the
European Union's poorest member state. Protesters blamed foreign companies as
well as high level corruption. It gradually grew into a civil unrest challenging
the established order. Two weeks ago, clashes between police and protesters left
two dozen people injured and prompted Prime Minister Boiko Borisov's center-right
cabinet to quit. He has since been hospitalized with high blood pressure. The
government's resignation cleared the way for early elections, to be held on May 12.
Yet, Bulgarians have expressed their frustration with politics and what they see
as unfulfilled promises of EU membership. The Balkan nation joined the 27-nation block
in 2007. Listen to this report by Stefan Bos