Serikali ya Waziri Mkuu Rosen Zhelyazkov imejiuzulu baada ya maelfu ya waandamanaji kujitokeza mitaani katika miji mbalimbali nchini Bulgaria na kujaza eneo la katikati ya mji mkuu, Sofia, Jumatano usiku. Hatua hiyo ya kushangaza imekuja saa chache kabla ya kura ya kutokuwa na imani na serikali bungeni — na ikiwa ni siku 20 tu kabla ya Bulgaria kujiunga rasmi na matumizi ya euro.
Waandamanaji walikuwa wakilishutumu serikali yake ya mseto ya mrengo wa kati-kulia, iliyopo madarakani tangu Januari, kwa kuendeleza ufisadi mkubwa. Wiki iliyopita serikali tayari ilifuta bajeti yenye utata ya mwaka ujao kufuatia shinikizo la maandamano.
“Tunasikia sauti za wananchi wanaopinga serikali,” Zhelyazkov alisema kupitia hotuba ya televisheni. “Vijana kwa wazee wameinua sauti zao kutaka [tujiuzulu],” aliongeza. “Nguvu hii ya kiraia inapaswa kuungwa mkono na kuhamasishwa.” Taarifa kwenye tovuti ya serikali ilieleza kuwa mawaziri wataendelea na majukumu yao hadi baraza jipya la mawaziri litakapoteuliwa.
Kati ya watu 50,000 na 100,000 walijitokeza katika eneo la Triangle of Power na Independence Square katikati ya Sofia Jumatano jioni wakitaka serikali kung’oka madarakani. Maneno “Jiuzulu” na “Mafia Ondokeni” yalionyeshwa kwenye jengo la bunge.
Wiki iliyopita, Rais Rumen Radev pia aliunga mkono maandamano hayo na kutoa wito kwa serikali kujiuzulu.
===============For English Audience=====================
The government of Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has resigned after protesters took to the streets in cities across the country and filled the center of the capital Sofia on Wednesday night. Zhelyazkov's dramatic move came ahead of a vote of no confidence in parliament, and 20 days before Bulgaria joins the euro.
Protesters had accused his minority center-right government, in power since January, of widespread corruption. The government had already scrapped a controversial budget plan for next year in response to the demonstrations last week. "We hear the voice of citizens protesting against the government," Zhelyazkov said in a TV address. "Both young and old have raised their voices for [our resignation]," he added. "This civic energy must be supported and encouraged."
A statement on the government website said ministers would continue in their roles until a new cabinet was elected. Between 50,000 and 100,000 people turned out in Sofia's central Triangle of Power and Independence Square on Wednesday evening calling for the government to go. The words "Resignation" and "Mafia Out" were projected onto the parliament building. They were backed last week by President Rumen Radev who had also called on the government to stand down.
SOURCE: BBC