Bulgarian nationalists march against euro currency adoption

Fears that the it will harm the economy, coupled with a mistrust of institutions has led many to oppose the euro. Disinformation campaigns have muddled the debate over Bulgaria’s economic transition.

Thousands gathered in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia and other major cities on Saturday to reject the country’s plans to adopt the euro, the latest move by the eastern European country to strengthen its status in the European Union.

Critics of the move are demanding that the government hold a referendum over whether the country should abandon the lev and adopt the euro as its currency.

It comes months after Bulgaria, along with Romania, were admitted to the Schengen area.

Demonstrators in Sofia carried flags of the pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party. A large banner read “The battle for the Bulgarian lev is the last battle for Bulgaria.”

Anti-euro protesters gathered in Sofia, Bulgaria, carrying banners and flagsAnti-euro protesters gathered in Sofia, Bulgaria, carrying banners and flags

Civic groups and nationalist parties organized the protest, leading the march singing patriotic songs and shouting slogans like “The future belongs to sovereign states.”

Bulgaria, which joined the European Union in 2007 and remains its poorest member, is expected to get approval from Brussels in June to adopt the euro.