15th day of anti-government protests

Despite the changes to the cabinet announced today, July 23, protests against the government continue.

For the 15th day in a row, the demonstrators gathered under the windows of the corridors of power.

They want the resignation of the government, early elections, machine electronic voting. They do not accept the "cosmetic changes" proposed today by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev went out amongst the protesters in front of the Presidency building in the evening on July 23 and addressed them.

The protesters started gathering in front of the Presidency building at 5:00 p.m.

This is what the first people who came to the protest told the BNT team:

“Cabinet reshuffle is not enough. It doesn't matter who they choose. The important thing is who stands behind them. I think it's normal all of them to leave."

"Resignation of the whole cabinet. Early elections, new cabinet, new Parliament."

"We have to fight for the future of our children. I have three children and what is happening is not right."

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., protesters blocked the traffic on Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. in Sofia.

At 19:30 they started throwing sunflower seeds and candies at the building of the Council of Ministers.

They have told BNT team that they do not accept the reshuffles in the cabinet as sufficient and will continue to demand the resignation of the whole government.

"This is a mockery in my opinion.There should be no changes, but resignation of the whole cabinet, and the chief Prosecutor Geshev. There should be radical reforms in the whole structure."

"I think it's just an attempt to calm people down, but I'm already hearing and feeling that it won't be enough. That there will be a bigger protest today."

"Fruitless attempts to save something that cannot be saved."

"It's like the ship is sinking slowly, on schedule, but we're going to pour buckets of water, to save ourselves. That's complete nonsense to me."

There was a protest tonight in front of the BNT building demanding the resignation of Director General Emil Koshlukov.

At 9:15 p.m., the protesters split into groups to block the traffic at 9 key crossroads in Sofia: Eagles’ Bridge; Vassil Levski Monument; Vitosha Blvd. and Patriarch Evtimiy; the Indoors Market (Halite), Macedonia Square, the crossroads of Georgi S. Rakovski Street and Knyaz Alexander Dondukov Blvd., Fritjof Nansen Blvd. and Bulgaria Blvd. and Lion's Bridge.

At 9:30 p.m., protesters blocked the crossroads of Vitosha Blvd. and Patriarch Evtimiy St.

Anti-government protests were staged in other major cities across the country, including Plovdiv.