ARF Calls for Government Resignation Following Nationwide Protests

The Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) party has demanded the resignation of the government, according to a statement published on their official Facebook page on December 2. ARF stated that the spontaneous wave of civic unrest over the past week demonstrated a clear rejection of the so-called “Peevski model,” highlighted the demand for the government’s resignation, and set the expectation that political forces urgently ensure conditions for fair early elections.

“Over the past week, spontaneous civic discontent clearly expressed its opposition to the ‘Peevski model’ as a form of state governance. Hundreds of thousands across the country chanted in unison: ‘Resignation!’ This call is the natural conclusion of yet another attempt to deepen the mafia-like control over Bulgarian political life through the dominance of a single individual over the main pillars of the state,” the statement read.

"Our position remains unchanged. To this day, we join the calls for the resignation of the current government. We urge all parliamentary forces to clearly state their positions and to take urgent legislative action to ensure the holding of free and fair extraordinary parliamentary elections. This should happen in close collaboration with a broad public and civic council,” the party added.

The statement also criticised the law enforcement services’ handling of the protests. “We leave without comment the inadequate actions of the security services. Instead of guaranteeing the peaceful and orderly conduct of the protest, they allowed organised and paid provocateurs to engage in vandalism in central Sofia. This casts a shadow over the work of the institutions responsible for maintaining order and protecting members of the public, rather than artificially escalating tensions. The protest highlighted a serious political diagnosis. It is now up to the responsible political leaders and their party structures to seek a solution to the situation,” ARF concluded.