TENS of thousands of Bulgarians, plunged into poverty by an ever deepening economic crisis, joined an opposition rally in Sofia yesterday to call for the immediate ousting of the Socialist government.
An estimated 30,000 people massed around the gold domes of the Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral, which dominates the old centre of the capital. Countless blue opposition banners, flecked with the green, red and white of the national flag, created a vast blanket of colours.
Riot police formed a defensive cordon around the adjacent parliament building. They were booed and jeered by the crowd, still seething from a police charge early on Saturday morning in which over 170 people were injured. One demonstrator carried a poster saying: "Police - your bosses are on the way out. You will be left with us.
The outgoing president, Mr Zhelyu Zhelev, offered to mediate after negotiations between the government and the opposition Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) broke down yesterday.
In an interview he warned that, without compromise, "the unrest will continue and spread. The crisis will deepen ... Things might get out of control."
Mr Zhelev's replacement, Mr Petar Stoyanov, a UDF leader elected in November, issued a call from the steps of the cathedral for the BSP to return to talks "having already decided to hold early parliamentary elections." The UDF has called for a wave of strikes this week, if the government does not give in.
The protesters said they were inspired by the growing success of anti socialist rallies in neighbouring Serbia. But the Bulgarian demonstrations are driven by economic despair rather than political outrage.
The average worker in Serbia earns five times more than his Bulgarian counterpart.
Middle class Bulgarians have been pauperised by inflation - now running at an annual rate of 300 per cent - and the 90 per cent fall in the value of the national currency, the lev, over the past year.
When currency dealing begins after the weekend break, most expect the lev to go through the floor. A currency board - a stringent monetary regime backed by foreign loans aimed at stabilising the lev - was due to be agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but it cannot be established while the country is in political turmoil.
Ms Helena Poptodorova, a BSP parliamentary deputy, agreed that the crowd outside parliament had good reason to protest, but argued that early elections would only postpone IMF negotiations and the establishment of a currency board.
Ms Poptodorova was one of 19 BSP deputies who helped force the resignation of the Socialist prime minister, Mr Zhan Videnov, whose conservative policies were widely blamed for the economic crisis. But she insists the BSP, which retains a parliamentary majority, has the constitutional right to form a second government.
In an interview yesterday, President Zhelev said he would withdraw his previous objections and swear in a new BSP government in the next few days. But he doubted the Socialists would be able to hold on to power "considering the deepening crisis and the complete failure of their government so far."
He is due to hand over his job to Mr Stoyanov next week.