SOFIA
Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski said on Monday there is a growing number of people who lost confidence in his government, as the country has witnessed large anti-government demonstrations since Friday.
The protests began after the Bulgarian parliament approved MP Delian Peevski as the Chairman of the State Agency for National Security (DANS).
Oresharski defined the nascent ten-day government's decision to appoint Peevski as an "obvious mistake," saying they underestimated the possible ramifications of his controversial reputation as a media tycoon and former cabinet minister.
"The number of people who don't believe in me is on the rise," Oresharski admitted. "I have suffered a loss of confidence."
Prime Minister said he would not resign, however, maintaining the government must keep up its work towards completing negotiations for an EU loan of 15 billion euros for the next seven years.
The protests are showing a tendency to grow further, with tens of thousands pouring into streets. The capital Sofia saw a demonstration of around 20.000 on Sunday.
Prime Minister Oresharski is set to meet protest leaders on Monday.
In a letter mailed to media, Peevski expressed his readiness to resign his post, saying he accepted the job for the sake of the people, and would quit it for their sake.
President Rosen Plevneliev, who withdrew his support to the government due to the "Peevski scandal", announced he would gather the National Security Council on June 20 in hopes of finding a solution to the political crisis.
