Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Miners block centre of Sofia 

Photo: BGNES

Thousands of miners and energy workers, members of the two main trade unions, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the trade union "Podkrepa", gathered in the area between the buildings of the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers. 

The demonstrators demanded that Parliament vote to postpone the liberalisation of the household electricity market for at least another three years - from 2026 to 2029. 

"I work at the Thermal Power Plant 'Bobov Dol'. If they close the coal mines, they will close the TPPs. I don't know where we will go, we have no alternatives. The first 160 people have already been laid off at the Maritsa Iztok TPP. Of course we are worried about them and ourselves," one of the protesters told BNR. 

According to the demonstrators, the green transition is not a fair one, as the laid-off workers are being offered jobs that do not match their skills - as cooks and salespeople. They are also not being paid the promised 36 salaries as compensation.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

There is a parliamentary majority to form a coalition government

The parliamentary group "Democracy, Rights and Freedoms" - DPS will support a government of GERB-СDS, BSP-United Left and ITN in its vote in the National Assembly as part of the formation of a parliamentary majority.  Negotiations for forming a..

published on 1/15/25 9:53 AM

Bulgarian Consulate in Los Angeles issues recommendations to Bulgarians affected by the devastating fires

The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles has issued recommendations to Bulgarians affected by the devastating fires in the city. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering assistance to those affected by the fires in California..

published on 1/15/25 9:43 AM

Bulgarian satellite Balkan-1 has been launched into space from base in USA

The Bulgarian satellite Balkan-1 has been launched into Earth orbit to transmit data for the EU's Copernicus programme . The satellite is a development of the Bulgarian company EnduroSat and was launched into space from the Vandenberg Space Force..

published on 1/15/25 8:40 AM