Protest by owners of hotels and restaurants block traffic in central Sofia

Hundreds of represenatives of small and medium-sized businesses staged a protest in central Sofia on January 29, blocking traffic at several points in the city. Owners of hotels and restaurants came out on the streets to demand lower VAT and protest against an ordinance, which requires the introduction of new software for the cash registers. The protest was held despite that a decision was made during a meeting between business representatives and Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov on Janury 28 to postpone the introduction of the ordinance by six months.The protesters said the postponement was throwing dust in the eyes.

The protesters say their business is threatened, and it is the backbone of the economy. They insist on lower VAT - 9% instead of 23%. They stated that they were not liars and criminals, but all the checks that were being carried out force them to be. They said they were supportive of the business not being shady, but with clear rules and without being suffocated.

Protesters blocked the square in front of the Pareliment and filled the entire area around the monument of Tsar Osvoboditel.

A police cordon and gendarmerie, in four rows, guarded the protest. The protesters demanded government’s resignation. On several occasions, they shouted offensive qualifications to the police, but there were no serious clashes.

Later the protest moved to the building of the Council of Ministers, then to Eagles Bridge, where the traffic was blocked. Another group blocked the traffic at the junction at Sofia University.

Richard Aliberov, the head of a professional association of restaurant and bar owners said that they are distancing themselves from the resignation demands of Vuzrazhdane party, which joined the protest. He added that the protest was organized by businesses and had no political demands. According to him, work starts on the ordinance from Monday to satisfy the business demands.