Bulgaria’s government has announced the withdrawal of its contentious 2026 budget plan following extensive protests in the capital, Sofia, and other cities across the nation. These protests were sparked by public opposition to the draft budget, which demonstrators claimed obscured significant government corruption issues.
On Monday night, tens of thousands participated in rallies, resulting in confrontations between some masked individuals and police, particularly when they targeted the offices of the ruling Gerb party and the DPS party in Sofia. In total, over 70 arrests were made during the disturbances, as law enforcement reported significant clashes.
The government confirmed on Tuesday that it would abandon the budget proposal, which included tax increases and raised social security contributions aimed at supporting increased state spending. This decision followed previous protests after the initial budget outline was presented to parliament. With Bulgaria set to adopt the euro on January 1, next year’s budget will mark its first in the currency, amid divided public sentiment regarding potential inflation risks.
Many protesters voiced their frustration over the country’s ongoing struggles with corruption and the perceived inadequacies in governance, as evidenced by the recent history of short-lived governments since 2020. Demonstrations were not limited to Sofia; sizeable gatherings also occurred in cities such as Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas.
In response to the protests, President Rumen Radev urged an end to violence, deeming it a “provocation by the mafia,” while echoing the call for the resignation of the current government and early elections. The Prime Minister, Rosen Zhelyazkov, leads a minority coalition formed after the October 2024 elections, which lacked a clear majority. Following the protests, he stated that a new budget process would be initiated. The opposition has criticized this move, insisting that it is insufficient without a government resignation.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjezwzw088jo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss