The government of Bulgaria will resign Wednesday afternoon following a week of sometimes violent protests, Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said in a surprise announcement to Parliament. "The people gave us power and today we are returning it," he said, according to local news reports.
Reuters
Prime Minister Boiko Borisov of Bulgaria in Parliament on Wednesday. “The people gave us power and today we are returning it,” he said.
The mass protests were triggered by electricity price increases and corruption scandals, including one over the nominee to head the state electricity regulatory commission, which sets rates. She was alleged to have sold cigarettes illegally online and her nomination was later withdrawn.
Protests in cities around the country on Sunday night were believed to be the biggest the country had seen in 16 years.
Trying to appease the protesters, the prime minister said Tuesday that the license of the Czech utility CEZ, which provides power to many residential customers in Bulgaria, would be withdrawn.
Opposition political parties had been attempting to exploit public anger over the government’s austerity measures as general elections planned for July approached. They are now likely to be held earlier.
Mr. Borisov cited beatings of protesters Tuesday by the police as one reason for his decision.
"Every drop of blood for us is a stain," he said. "I can’t look at a Parliament surrounded by barricades, that’s not our goal, neither our approach, if we have to protect ourselves from the people."
Mr. Borisov said he would not participate in an interim government.
After the announcement, members of his party left Parliament and the speaker called a recess because of the lack of a quorum.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: February 20, 2013
An earlier version of this article and an accompanying photo caption misspelled the given name of Bulgaria’s prime minister. He is Boiko Borisov, not Boyko.
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