SOFIA, Bulgaria – Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Wednesday offered to step down if that would keep his troubled coalition government in place.

Borissov told a caucus of his centre-right GERB party that he would discuss the option with the leaders of the two nationalist parties that are his junior partners in the governing coalition.

The resignations of Borissov and the country’s chief prosecutor have been the key demands of month-long street protests across the Balkan country. The mostly young protesters accuse those in power of links to the mafia, refusing to fight corruption and reform the judiciary, and suppressing freedom of speech.

Borissov has been in power since 2009 and his third term is scheduled to end next March.

In Sofia, protesters have permanently blocked several key road intersections, causing huge traffic jams. They have set up tents and say they intend to remain there until their demands are met.

Meanwhile, one of the protesters, who went on hunger strike five days ago, was taken to hospital on Wednesday in critical condition.