BULGARIA" "
Colleges occupied in Sofia and in other cities. The youths call for “renewed politics”
A few days ago the students manifesting their concerns and their indignation for the situation at national level occupied the University of Sofia, the most important College in Bulgaria. They occupied classes and corridors staying there day and night, obstructing regular didactic activity. The youths are calling for “a new ethical code” in politics, as declared in their speeches, a “change in the system” along with the resignation of the government of Plamen Oresharski, supported by the Socialists and by the Turkish minority movement. Several other universities and colleges joined the struggle and announced their support to Sofia’s students’ occupation. In fact, the universities of Plovdiv, Burgas and Veliko Tarnovo, along with other three higher studies institutions in the capital are in a state of unrest. Students’ protests coincide with a period of strong political instability and widespread dissatisfaction in Bulgaria caused by the ongoing economic and social situation, marked by severe unemployment. For 141 days, every evening, a group of people have been gathering in front of the government calling for the resignation of its members. Riots broke out June 14 following the appointment of Delyan Peevski – accused of illicit economic interests – as President of the Agency for National Security. Young occupiers. Boris Rangelov is only 19. He studies Communication in Sofia. He told SIR that he’s taking part in the university’s occupation because he wants to “live in a country where politics is based on moral codes”. In his view this means that political leaders should be “honest people, who seek the good of the population”. He believes that “Bulgarians can change the Country and the whole political system”. Rangelov describes himself as a Christian democrat. He added: “among the occupying students there are those that support the political left and the political right”. University authorities said they understand the students’ motivations but obviously they do not support the occupation. It should be said that not all students have decided to take part in the protests. Ivan Vladimirov, 24, a History student, said he doesn’t believe that “the occupation will change things”. He remarked that the “government has not given up nor stepped down for the past five months”. He said he is against “the siege because it is blocking all the courses”. A moral revolt? But in some faculties “autonomous” educational activities are also taking place. Students invite experts and intellectuals they selected to discuss hot issues pertaining to national and international current events. Scholars include Tony Nikolov, Professor in the faculty of Philosophy and editor of the portal “Christianity and culture”. “These students were born after the fall of Communism – he said – and they want a moral revolution to take place because they understand that material things are not enough”. In his opinion, “Bulgarian society is facing a strong crisis: national institutions as well as the government have fallen below the minimum trust threshold” as they are unable to respond to the expectations of the population. Boris Popivanov, professor of political Sciences, pointed out: “Students have the rights to protest because a large part of political and social life in Bulgaria is distant from morality and normality”. However, he added, “the risk is that political forces that are out of parliament may exploit the youths’ energy”, by riding the wave of the moment. The students’ occupation “reminds us of the youth movements in Western Europe a few decades ago. But in this case, Popuvanov added, “students are the last ones to protest, while street unrests appear to have lost their potentiality”. Deep reforms. According to recent surveys, some 60% of Bulgarian people support the students’ protests and considers them morally just. According to sociologist Boryana Dimitrova, “the leaders’ refusal to assume political responsibilities in the light of widespread discontent” coupled by the failure to adopt serious reforms “fuel the population’s resentment”. Premier Plamen Oresharski, has reiterated that “the vote on the financial bill is on the agenda, but the resignation” of the executive is not. Over the past days even physicians and farmers have taken to the streets. “The government will soon have to respond to the citizens – Nikolov added -. It’s impossible to work surrounded by crush barriers and by the police 24hrs running, every single day”.
