President Iliana Iotova says she will ask National Protection Service (NSO) head Emil Tonev to resign. "At this stage I personally see failures and I expect resignations. I will ask for the resignation of the head of the National Protection Service (NSO), Emil Tonev," she told reporters.

The row began yesterday outside the office of Progressive Bulgaria, when an incident involved journalist Sonya Koltuklieva. The same day, deputy parliament speaker Atanas Atanasov asked for Mihaela Dotsova to resign. The opposition also called for her to quit.

The previous development: Atanasov asks Dotsova to resign after incident with journalist

Last night the NSO said it would look into the clash between the journalist and one of its officers, who guards Dotsova.

"We will not allow the case of Sonya Koltuklieva to be used to rehabilitate the patchwork coalition," the Progressive Bulgaria press office said. The party opposes any excessive use of force.

The press office said the law applies to everyone and breaking it is unacceptable, whether by institutions, citizens or the media. Such cases should not be provoked, allowed or used for political gain.

The party calls the demand that Dotsova resign inappropriate. It says the demand ignores the NSO's set procedures and shows that the patchwork coalition is being revived.