Students and trade unions have taken to the streets of Sofia as protests against the centre-left government escalate.<br /><br /> Demonstrations against the administration have taken place on a daily basis since the May election, which saw Plamen Oresharski take on the role of prime minister.<br /><br /> The students ‘early rising’ protest is a demand for good governance and an end to corruption while the unions want a 10 percent salary rise for public sector workers along with healthcare and energy reforms.<br /><br /> One protester summed up the feeling:” One of the main ideas, in fact the main one, is to wake up civil society in a country which is still weak the wake up is underway.” <br /><br /> In response the government has increased spending on the poor and raised the minimum wage. <br /><br /> However, many in Bulgaria still live close to the poverty line and winter sees people struggling to pay utility bills as temperatures plummet.<br /><br /> The government has accused the opposition party of organising the unrest something it denies.
