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Somalia is ninth. A handful of countries before Bulgaria have gone through sustained armed conflict, famine, genocide, apartheid and a nuclear disaster. And Bulgarians? Bulgarians went through 23 years of democratic transition. The above fact hints at a key reason for the protests that have marked 2013 and are still drawing thousands of people to anti-government protests day after day: ever since the democratic changes of 1989, life in Bulgaria has been unduly hard. The protesters presently crowding the plaza surrounding the Bulgarian National Assembly and demanding the Cabinet’s resignation, belong to the generation which was in primary school circa 1989. They belong to the generation which grew up in a deprived society of clashing values and persistent uncertainty. But crucially, they also belong to the generation which, for the first time in Bulgarian modern history, could read world news, travel widely and compare. The contrast they found between their reality and the rest of European civilization was devastating. It still is today – and the protesters are tired of living in limbo. The thirty-somethings of Bulgaria had been silent till now – too busy trying to sort out their careers and families in an ever-contracting economy and an environment of growing lawlessness and nepotism. Sometimes, too busy planning emigration. This is their first mass outing, their first show of concerted citizen will – an organized discontent, growing out of several green movements which gained traction in the countrysince the mid-00s precisely because they offered a politically unaffiliated – i.e. unsullied – outlet for the frustrations Bulgarians had with a long line of resource-stripping, land-grabbing, neglectful and polluting governments. The people protesting in front of the Parliament today feel cheated out of their youth, dreams and hopes: after nearly a quarter century of “change”, nothing in their lives has actually changed for good. Their formative years were spent in conditions of deepening nihilism – between 1994 and 2012 dabbling in Bulgarian politics morphed from a challenging, ideal-bound job into a bona fide criminal career. Ministries became the front-facing “shops” of the proliferating mafia structures, manned by ousted, but well-connected Communist functionaries, and hundreds of disaffected secret police agents and prospectless young wrestlers and boxers, let down by the sudden loss of state subsidy for their local clubs (such were established in most towns in Communist times). As children and teens, the current protest generation had to endure the doomed attempts of a nascent political scene to generate elites untainted by Communist ties – a near impossibility in a society where access to power was so tightly controlled that there was virtually no other way in. Having actual political experience equaled a compromised background. To illustrate: as of this year, more than half of the currently serving Bulgarian diplomats are still persons with proven links to the oppressive apparatus of the former Communist state security services. The latest protests were triggered by the same legacy of entrenched, deeply illegitimate power: the snap elections on May 11 produced the current stillborn coalition between the Bulgarian Socialist Party (heir to the seemingly dismantled all-powerful Communist Party) and ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, with Plamen Oresharski as Prime Minister. In its first days in power, the new government, aided by a largely unchanged Parliament, attempted to shoo in Delyan Peevski (a widely reviled protégé of massive criminal monopolies, under multiple investigations himself) as head of DANS – an ill-conceived, yet highly powerful national security structure tasked with investigating organized crime activity. This paradox was seen as a monstrous gesture of contempt towards the Bulgarian people: it is one thing to tacitly advance the toxic meshing of democratic institutions and organized crime structures. It is quite another to rub it in the face of a nation that just ousted another primitive and abusive government. When today’s protesters were growing up, they witnessed the progressive deterioration of vital institutions, the arbitrary change of governments, but not of attitudes and political practices – each Cabinet appeared more absurd, incompetent and unprincipled than the last. The currency crashed, the shops had no food. The abrupt change from command economy to free market capitalism plunged vast swathes of the population into sudden, shocking poverty, accompanied by loss of dignity, status and security. Stunned, disoriented and angry, Bulgarians went to the ballot in ever dwindling numbers, mostly to avenge themselves against the latest government that overpromised and underdelivered. Elections became the public executions of politicians and parties, and, finally, of the concept of government itself. This is how beginning with 2000, Bulgarians voted in a progression of ever odder political entities – from one-man parties such as the National Movement Simeon II (which produced the paradox of installing deposed prince Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha as a republican Prime Minister without formally rescinding his royal claims) and GERB (the charismatic movement around strongman Boyko Borisov, ousted by protests in February this year), to ultranationalist scandal-mongers “Ataka”, busy inciting ethnic hatred against the significant minority of Bulgarian Turks. It continued thus until no party, no politician was able to claim an ounce of decency or respect. This mutual schism in Bulgarian public consciousness, pitting everybody who was in politics against everybody who was not, helped Bulgarian society arrive where it stands today. Party lines, for purposes other than public debates and election campaigns, are blurred beyond recognition. Trust in institutions is practically nil. Voters struggle to identify a true, meaningful alternative in terms of viable political opposition. Bulgarians either avoid voting altogether, disgusted with the mere thought of enabling the same revolving set of failed politicians, or go to the ballot not with their future in mind, but to punish, to lash out, to tear down. Everything that seemed new and untried before appeared preferable to whatever current government was in charge, so no Cabinet was actually allowed space and time to see though meaningful reforms. In turn, each successive Cabinet busied itself predominantly with undoing what the previous ones had done and reallocating resources to insiders – a party mandate didn’t mean governing a country, but simply draining it for personal gain and exploiting it as a vast sweatshop. To quote a recent Reuters publication: “We’re effectively dealing with a Wild West country,” said an EU official who handles east Europe, voicing doubts about Bulgaria’s ability to enforce the law and live by democratic norms”. This stinging judgment echoes ominously for the future of Bulgarian statehood – it indicates that the country has exhausted its credit of post-Cold War good will in the eyes of its aspirational model – Western Europe. While in the 90s the West may have been willing to help Bulgaria along, now the country is viewed more as a grand nuisance, a baffling liability in the periphery of the European Union. The demonstrators standing vigil in the cold nights of November 1989, shouting “Times are changing! It’s our time!” felt the world was watching. The free world was behind them, the Iron Curtain was melting, help was on its way. It was an illusion, ultimately, but it sustained them. Today, the children of those same protesters doggedly demand the resignation of another morally bankrupt government – the last, ugly spawn of a transition whose course was fatally perverted from the very start. They stand in the sweltering July evenings on the same yellow-bricked plaza, in front of the same Parliament building. They know now times have not changed. They know they stand alone. Maria Spirova Maria Spirova is an award-winning Bulgarian journalist with over 10 years of agency and long-form experience.   Copyright © 2013 euronews

That was a reaction to the president’s call for early elections, which he made clear in an address to the nation earlier on Friday. Earlier in the day Bulgaria’s president called for new early elections, claiming this is the only way out of the ongoing political crisis and mass protests. “Early parliamentary elections are the only democratic solution to the crisis we are in. To tell people that new early elections are a dangerous scenario is to tell them that democracy is dangerous,” Rosen Plevneliev said in his address to the nation in connection with the tense situation in the country. “Bulgarians are protesting peacefully, which is a clear sign our society is mature…. What is most worrying is that there were attempts to artificially provoke ethnic conflicts. This means playing with fire and the consequences could be disastrous. Haven’t we learned anything from our neighbors? I firmly condemn those provocations!”The series of anti-government protests in Bulgaria was triggered by the scandalous appointment of controversial media mogul Delyan Peevski as Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS).Although the appointment was revoked, the people went on to demand that the cabinet resign collectively over ties with oligarchs.Protesters are also calling for Election Code amendments which will guarantee greater representation of the people in Parliament.Plevneliev has backed the protests earlier, but two days ago he said the solution for the crisis was not a "revolution, but right steps in the right direction."According to him, the political instability has a negative influence on entrepreneurs and investments. He stressed the crisis in the country is not an economic one as the macroeconomic indicators are stable, due to the strict fiscal policy and the established fundamental "culture of stability on the backdrop of the currency board."The President believes the political parties need counter-pressure, but with concrete and well-postulated demands.Bulgaria’s embattled Socialist-backed government however has repeatedly denied rampant speculations that it is considering resignation amid mass protests.“The issue is not on our agenda at all. We have never discussed it," Defense Minister Anguel Naydenov told bTV on Sunday morning.“We have strong support from people in the whole country. So there is no cause to be disturbed by the fact that several thousand protesters are demanding our resignation. We have no intention to resign now or in May. We have lots to offer in terms of social and other measures,” Naydenov pointed out.The statement came days after Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski made it clear he will not resign as long as the government has the support of Bulgaria’s parliament.He denied hinting at quitting his post when the opposition boycotted the parliamentary sitting and it was cancelled.“This is your own interpretation of my words,” he told reporters.This is the second time that the embattled prime minister defies calls to resign.Earlier in the month he warned that the renewed political crisis might jeopardise Bulgaria's negotiations for EU aid between 2014 and 2020 and cost the newcomer billions of euros in lost subsidies.“Quitting now would also mean a deepening of the economic and social crisis,” he said.The prospect of new early elections loomed large in Bulgaria on Wednesday after the Socialist Party also said it is bracing up for snap polls amid fears the opposition will continue to hamper the work of parliament.The Socialists feared that the leader of the nationalists party Ataka Volen Siderov and his MPs will continue to boycott the parliament and the plenary sitting will have to be cancelled.Members of the center-right party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, are also boycotting the parliamentary sittings, saying they will attend only if changes to the Election Code are on the agenda.Meanwhile Bulgaria's former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov stated that early general elections in September would be the best scenario for the country.

De inspanningen van NLVE en SEBA in de afgelopen jaren hebben de gemeente hier mede toe aangezet. Wat wij al vreesden blijkt nu ook bewaarheid te worden. Van Poelgeest wil bij de verkoop van een woning alle waardestijging afromen door de koper van uw woning een hogere canon in rekening te brengen. Dit betekent dat de prijsstijging van uw huis door inflatie, marktvraag en uw investeringen in de verbetering van uw woning bij verkoop overgeheveld worden naar de gemeente.   HELP UZELF/ONS EN TEKEN DEZE PETITIE, STUUR DE LINK DOOR NAAR ZOVEEL MOGELIJK BEKENDEN IN AMSTERDAM.   

Ook journalisten en een enkele ambtenaar kwamen langs.  Meer dan de helft had contact nodig met een Kamerlid uit de commissie Volksgezondheid. De Kamerleden die langskwamen met een ander specialisme zeiden dan ook vaak de informatie door te geven aan de collega die erover gaat. Aanwezige Kamerleden waren: Anne Mulder (VVD), Lutz Jacobi, Tanja Jadnanansing (PvdA), Harry van Bommel, Henk van Gerven, Paulus Jansen (SP), Hanke Bruins-Slot, Eddy van Hijum, Mona Keijzer, Agnes Mulder, Sander de Rouwe (CDA), Vera Bergkamp, Gerard Schouw, Stientje van Veldhoven (D66) en Henk Krol (50Plus).  Veel Kamerleden die door Hart van Nederland, als onderdeel van de reportage 'sateetje of boze burger', op de traditionele barbecue werden gevraagd naar buiten te komen wisten er niet van af. De uitnodiging moet volgend jaar ook naar de betreffende commissies zodat het als ingekomen stuk wordt besproken en als 'werkbezoek' kan worden geagendeerd, suggereerde een Kamerlid. Voor een aantal petitionarissen was het een verrassende nieuwe omgeving, terwijl anderen door Kamerleden werden begroet als oude bekenden. Kamerleden verwonderden zich over de hoge drempel voor burgers om naar Den Haag te komen met een petitie. Op dinsdagen is er altijd een moment waarop een formele overhandiging afgesproken kan worden. Zo komen er ongeveer 100 petities per jaar binnen bij de Tweede Kamer. Maar een handvol daarvan is van gewone burgers. Het merendeel is van organisaties die de petitie gebruiken als onderdeel van een lobbytraject. Voor het evenement zijn 588 petitionarissen met een ondertekenbare nationale petitie uitgenodigd. Het bleek niet makkelijk om even naar Den Haag te gaan voor een petitie, terwijl dit voor de Kamerleden juist het makkelijkst lijkt. Misschien moeten Kamerleden petities als 'werkbezoek' gaan ophalen in het land? Na de overhandiging van een petitie blijft het vaak stil. Het verbaasde Kamerleden te horen dat petitionarissen vaak niets te horen krijgen. Ondertussen komen formeel overhandigde petities wel als ingekomen stuk bij een commissie binnen. In een procedurevergadering wordt dan bepaald wat ermee moet gebeuren. Bespreken? Ter kennisgeving aannemen? Vragen aan de minister stellen? Dit blijft een mysterie voor de petitionaris. In theorie is het mogelijk dit achteraf te reconstrueren, maar het zou een grote verbetering zijn als de petitionaris na de procedurevergadering een bericht krijgt van de griffier van de commissie. Wilt u ook dat dit beter moet? Teken de petitie erover! Zie antwoordop.petities.nl Een fotoverslag vindt u op de website van Netwerk Democratie, de organisatie die deze dag mogelijk heeft gemaakt. Vertegenwoordigd op het Plein waren: BTW? Nee! Stop BTW-heffing CAM-artsen Chirurgische methode Bauer (fibromyalgie) in de basiszorgverzekering Conflict van plichten door handhaven regel uit 2006 in polisvoorwaarden Dringend aandacht nodig voor faillissementen Elke wereldburger heeft recht op schoon drinkwater Erkenning door Regering en Parlement van 'Buitenaards' Leven Geef streetfood een kans Handen af van de homeopathie Hou het Tropenmuseum open Stop Chemtrails Nu en Weermanipulatie Stop machtsmisbruik door WSG en Jeugdzorg Stop Winning Fossiele Brandstoffen, Olie en Gas. Maak gebruik van Vrije/Nulpuntenergie mogelijk Vrijgegeven instellingsgelden voor studie geneeskunde Waarborg de psychologische zorg Waarheid en waarheidsvinding in het (familie)recht

Er worden echter onmogelijke eisen gesteld, zodat een Nederlands paspoort krijgen voor velen van hen niet haalbaar is. Daarom zijn ze een petitie gestart.   Onmogelijk om aan papieren te komen VluchtelingenWerk ondersteunt deze petitie van harte. Ariane den Uyl, beleidsmedewerker: "Om te kunnen naturaliseren zijn een geboorteakte en een geldig paspoort nodig. Voor veel pardonners is het echter onmogelijk om aan deze papieren te komen. Je kunt aan een Iraakse christen toch niet vragen om terug te gaan naar onveilig Bagdad?"  Zonder een Nederlands paspoort kan deze groep mensen nooit stemmen, bepaalde beroepen bij het leger of de politie niet uitoefenen en bijvoorbeeld geen hypotheek afsluiten. Den Uyl: "Ook zien we dat in de praktijk mensen zonder Nederlands paspoort minder makkelijk aan een baan kan komen."   Eisen moeten versoepeld worden Ook VluchtelingenWerk vindt dat de eisen om te kunnen naturaliseren versoepeld moeten worden. Voor pardonners moeten dezelfde eisen gelden als voor andere vluchtelingen, zij zijn immers vrijgesteld van deze documenten. We roepen daarom iedereen op om deze petitie te tekenen. VluchtelingenWerk kaartte deze problemen al eerder aan in de media. Kijk hier naar een item uit het NOS Journaal van september 2012.

Voor huiseigenaren zullen de voorstellen slecht uitpakken. De kans is groot dat de canonkosten over een periode van vijftig jaar met tientallen procenten zullen stijgen. Het is niet van deze tijd dat de gemeente kiest voor een systeem waarbij ze maximaal meeprofiteert van de waardestijging van een woning. Vereniging Eigen Huis heeft per brief bezwaar gemaakt tegen de herziening.Ook de Stichting Erfpachtbelangen Amsterdam (SEBA) heeft bezwaren tegen de plannen. Zij is daarom een petitie gestart onder huiseigenaren in Amsterdam om een referendum af te dwingen. De SEBA wil onder meer - evenals Vereniging Eigen Huis - dat de gemeente erfpachters het recht geeft de erfpacht eenmalig af te kopen.Onderteken de petitie tegen het erfpachtsysteemAls minimaal 27.000 Amsterdammers de petitie ondertekenen, komt er een referendum. De Gemeenteraad moet dan rekening houden met de bezwaren van de ondertekenaars. Dit kan leiden tot aanpassing van de plannen voor het erfpachtsysteem. Wij raden u aan om de petitie van de SEBA te ondertekenen.   Teken de petitie NB Elke stemgerechtigde Amsterdammer kan de petitie een keer ondertekenen.Meer informatie over de actie van Vereniging Eigen Huis vindt u hier.  

The morning protest is to merge with the traditional afternoon rally, the 22nd in a row, starting 6.30 pm in front of the Council of Ministers building.