About 20 members of the newly formed political party Zelenite (Bulgarian Greens) protested in front of the Cabinet building in Sofia on August 4, “in the connection of the inadequate activities of the Government and the tripartite coalition connected to the (latest) reports of the European Commission and OLAF (the European Anti-fraud Office) for Bulgaria,” the demonstration participants said. They expect not only resignations, but also a full investigation of the European money usage after 1990.

During the protest, they held red, yellow and violet balloons representing the colours of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the National Movement for Stability and Progress and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), the three parties in the tripartite coalition governing Bulgaria. The protesters burst the balloons showing that according to them the ministers, as well as Bulgarian president Georgi Purvanov (BSP) and the Government are only “hot air”.

Zelenite said they identified 35 directly responsible Cabinet members and employees, whose activities resulted in the European Union institutions saying that Bulgaria is “a problematic country with endemic corruption”. According to Zelentite, sanctions will soon follow in connection to financing operational programmes 2007/2013.

In its report on Bulgaria on July 23, the EC slammed the Government because there are few results to demonstrate that the system is functioning correctly, “despite the efforts of the Bulgarian Government, progress has been slower and more limited than expected and the need for verification and cooperation will continue for some time. (…) The judicial system and the administration need serious strengthening,” are some of the key findings of the report.

But according to MRF leader Ahmed Dogan, “The fact that the coalition has found the strength to conduct a fair self-analysis to find the most adequate principles and mechanisms to correct the policy regarding – first and foremost – the European funds, shows that the tripartite coalition has serious political resources and capacity,” he said on July 27.