POLICE PROTESTS ABOUT FINANCIAL CUTBACKS

Scores of  Bulgarian police officers gathered in front of the Ministry of Finance in the capital city of Sofia on 3^rd of November to protest over the financial cutbacks proposed in the draft 2016 budget.

Police officers from the towns of Gabrovo, Kardhzali, Haskovo and Yambol also said they were ready to block the motorways Trakia, Hemus, Maritsa, the passages Shipka, Hainboaz and Makaza. Officers at the border crossing points said they were ready to leave their posts as a sign of solidarity.

Negotiations were held on 3^rd of November between Bulgaria’s  Finance Ministe, Interior Minister and police trade unions, but ended without result. After the meeting, the trade unions said the protests would continue on 4^th of November.

At a joint press conference later on 3rd of November, the Minister of Interior, Roumyana Bachvarova, defended the proposal of the Finance Minister, Vladislav Goranov, for cutbacks of bonuses and future salaries in the security sector.