Students and unions unite as Sofia protests escalate

Students and trade unions have taken to the streets of Sofia as protests against the centre-left government escalate.

Demonstrations against the administration have taken place on a daily basis since the May election, which saw Plamen Oresharski take on the role of prime minister.

The students ‘early rising’ protest is a demand for good governance and an end to corruption while the unions want a 10 percent salary rise for public sector workers along with healthcare and energy reforms.

One protester summed up the feeling:” One of the main ideas, in fact the main one, is to wake up civil society in a country which is still weak the wake up is underway.”

In response the government has increased spending on the poor and raised the minimum wage.

However, many in Bulgaria still live close to the poverty line and winter sees people struggling to pay utility bills as temperatures plummet.

The government has accused the opposition party of organising the unrest something it denies.