Bulgaria ‘s government resigned on Wednesday after violent nationwide protests against high power prices, joining a long list of European administrations felled by austerity during Europe ‘s debt crisis, Reuters reports.
“I will not participate in a government under which police are beating people,” Borisov said as he announced his resignation on Wednesday.
Wage and pension freezes and tax hikes have bitten deep in a country where living standards are less than half the EU average and tens of thousands of Bulgarians have rallied in protests that have turned violent, chanting “Mafia” and “Resign.”
On Tuesday, 11 people were hospitalized – including one man bleeding heavily from the head – and 11 arrested after protesters threw flares at police, who fought demonstrators with shields and truncheons.
Parliament is expected to accept the resignation later in the day.
