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Protests kicked off in Sofia last night - the same day Bulgaria took over its first Presidency of the European Council from January 2018 until June 2018.

EU commissioners were in the city as Bulgaria begins its presidency - and guests at the opening ceremony of the presidency in Sofia, including European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the Council head Donald Tusk.

READ MORE: Juncker demands THANKS from Bulgaria for EU membership as protests rage around him

The Sofia Globe reports 11 protests were held across the city last night.

Former president Rossen Plevneliev said: "These protests are not a symbol of future political action, but they are telling us something important – the whole political elite has not done its job over the years."