Thousands of supporters of Bulgaria’s ultra-nationalist party “Revival” clashed with police on Saturday as they attempted to storm the European Union mission building during a protest against the country’s plans to adopt the euro next year.
Anti-government protesters, chanting “Resign” and “No Euro,” threw red paint, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails at the EU office building in Sofia, setting fire to its front door before being dispersed by the police, Reuters reports.
Around 10 police officers sustained minor injuries, and approximately six people were arrested, a senior police official said after the protest.
The government condemned the attack on the EU building, stating in a statement that such actions “are unacceptable and violate the principles of the rule of law.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also reacted to the events.
“Scandalous scenes in Sofia where our EU office was vandalized. In Europe, we exercise the right to demonstrate peacefully. Violence and vandalism are never the solution,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Some protesters waved Bulgarian, Soviet Union, or East German flags, while others held banners reading “We don’t want the euro.”
“We don’t want Bulgaria’s financial independence to be destroyed. We want to keep the Bulgarian lev,” said Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the “Revival” party. “We are here to protect our freedom.”
Economists say that Bulgaria, the poorest EU country where the lev has long been tied to the euro, would attract more foreign investments if it adopted the single currency and could secure credit rating improvements that would lower debt financing costs.
