Tractors are seen in front of Alexander Nevski cathedral prior to a protest in the centre of Bulgarian capital Sofia yesterday. The protesters, who have been holding a series of demonstrations for a week, say the government in its draft budget for 2012 cut subsidies for grain producers by 40 per cent compared to what they were promised. (Photo: AFP)

SOFIA, Bulgaria

Some 170 tractors surrounded the Bulgarian parliament yesterday as over 1,000 farmers protested against planned subsidy cuts, while railway workers held strikes for the 13th day running.

The vehicles, parked around parliament since Monday evening, were draped with the European and the Bulgarian flags and boasted banners that read “enough lies,” “stop the chaos” and “the agriculture ministry is undermining the government.”

Grain producers from around the country also marched in downtown Sofia, chanting “Resign!” at the agriculture and finance ministers.

The protesters, who have been holding a series of demonstrations for a week, say the government in its draft budget for 2012 cut subsidies for grain producers by 40 per cent compared to what they were promised.

The government meanwhile said it wanted to ensure a more equitable distribution of subsidies between all farming sectors.

According to the agriculture ministry, just 3.4 per cent of Bulgarian farmers — mostly major landowners — receive 78 per cent of the country’s EU subsidies.

Yesterday, workers at Bulgaria’s state railway company BDZ also continued their strike for a 13th consecutive day.

Between 70 and 80 per cent of trains have been halted for eight hours every day since November 24, as railway workers protest plans to cut 2,000 jobs to secure a ¤240-million (US$320-million,) rescue loan from the World Bank.

The transport ministry has insisted that firing 2,000 of the total 13,000 railway workers and cutting loss-making routes is inevitable if the railway company wants to avoid bankruptcy.

BDZ’s passenger transport has suffered severe competition over the past decade from cheap coach companies, and has relied on freight to make up for its losses.

AFP