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

August begins with warmer weather and rain showers in the mountainous areas

On Friday, the lowest temperatures will range from 14°C to 22°C, 16°C in Sofia. During the day, it will be mostly sunny over the northwestern and far eastern parts of the country. Cloud cover will be significant in the rest of the country and..

published on 7/31/25 6:45 PM
Alexander Dzhartov

All wildfires have been contained, the fire in Pirin is under control

All serious fires in the country have been contained, said Alexander Dzhartov, Chief Commissioner and Director of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection, quoted by BTA. He added that efforts are currently underway to purchase new..

published on 7/31/25 4:25 PM

Cap on retail mark-ups and quotas for Bulgarian produce under consideration

A new draft law on the supply chain for agricultural products and food proposes the introduction of quotas for Bulgarian produce in large retail outlets, as well as limits on trade mark-ups across the supply chain . Under the proposal, at least..

published on 7/31/25 4:15 PM