The Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov and his whole government is resigning from office after nationwide protests against austerity.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov had tried to calm protests against high electricity prices by sacking his finance minister, pledging to cut power prices and punish foreign-owned companies but the measures failed to defuse discontent.

Twenty-five people were taken to hospital after protesters clashed with police in the capital Sofia late on Tuesday while tens of thousands hit the streets over the weekend.

Many Bulgarians are also unhappy over power monopolies, low living standards and corruption in the European Union’s poorest country.

“I will not participate in a government under which police are beating people,” said Mr Borisov who will hand in his resignation after a regular Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“We have dignity and honour. It is the people who put us in power and we give it back to them today,” the prime minister told parliament, adding that he would not participate in an interim government.

The premier did not say if a parliamentary election scheduled for July would now be brought forward.

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