In Sofia and other cities, large groups of demonstrators gathered on Monday evening to express their dissatisfaction with the 2026 budget plans. People called for the government to resign and waved Bulgarian and European flags. The protests are among the largest the country has seen in decades.
The protests focus on the increase of taxes and social contributions. The budget raises burdens on private companies and expands spending for the public sector, which is causing unrest among many Bulgarians. Demonstrators believe the government is concentrating too much power and weakening the economy.
The discontent is broader than the budget alone. Many Bulgarians have long expressed concerns about corruption within state institutions. During the protests, slogans calling for an end to corruption were heard and texts were projected onto government buildings. For many people, the limit has been reached after years of incidents that have undermined trust in the government.
The situation led to several confrontations with the police on Monday evening. Demonstrators blocked streets around the parliament. Police used pepper spray and containers were set on fire. Despite the unrest, a large part of the gatherings proceeded peacefully, but the night brought further clashes.
President Rumen Radev has called for the resignation of the government and advocates for early elections. According to him, political calm can only return when a new course is chosen. His call resonates within many protest groups, who feel strengthened by his support.
Within the coalition of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, tensions are visible. Opposition parties play an active role in organizing demonstrations and point out the government’s mistakes in preparing the budget. Meanwhile, the government is trying to reduce dissatisfaction by suggesting that the budget plan can be reviewed.
Economic concerns are mounting. The country is about to adopt the euro at the beginning of January, but worries persist about rising prices and overall economic stability. Critics argue that the country does not yet meet the minimum EU criteria. These concerns also echo in the protests and strengthen the calls for a different course.
Anger is further fueled by a recent indictment from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Bulgarian officials are accused of fraud involving millions of euros in EU subsidies for the construction of a fishing port that in reality did not exist. This case adds to the existing criticism of corruption and fuels mistrust toward the government.