About 3,000 people gathered in the streets of Sofia to protest against the Bulgarian government. Protesters marched through the city streets, with a demand of the immediate resignation of the cabinet. Parts of the city have been closed to traffic, reported VoR.

Bulgaria’s president has called for new early elections, claiming this is the only way out of the ongoing political crisis and mass protests.

“Early parliamentary elections are the only democratic solution to the crisis we are in. To tell people that new early elections are a dangerous scenario is to tell them that democracy is dangerous,” Rosen Plevneliev said in his address to the nation in connection with the tense situation in the country.

“Bulgarians are protesting peacefully, which is a clear sign our society is mature. What is most worrying is that there were attempts to artificially provoke ethnic conflicts. This means playing with fire and the consequences could be disastrous. Haven’t we learned anything from our neighbors? I firmly condemn those provocations!”

The series of anti-government protests in Bulgaria was triggered by the scandalous appointment of controversial media mogul Delyan Peevski as Chair of theState Agency for National Security (DANS).

Although the appointment was revoked, the people went on to demand that the cabinet resign collectively over ties with oligarchs.

At the same time, about 150 government supporters gathered in the capital.

In Plovdiv, 200 people went into protest, partially blocking the railway station in the town.

The anti-government protests have been shaking Bulgaria for the third week.