Bulgaria withdraws proposed budget for 2026 following large protests in Sofia

The Bulgarian government announced on Tuesday that it has pulled its disputed draft budget for 2026 after widespread protests erupted in Sofia, only a month before the nation is set to adopt the euro. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stated that revised budget plans will be presented by the end of the year in response to mounting pressure on his administration.

On Monday, tens of thousands marched in the capital against the draft budget, which had already cleared its initial parliamentary reading. Protesters demanded the cancellation of planned increases in social security and pension contributions and raised concerns about potential corruption within the proposed budget.

Organizers reported around 50,000 participants at a rally that started peacefully but escalated into clashes near the headquarters of a ruling party. Some masked individuals threw firecrackers, bottles, and other objects at police, who responded with tear gas and pepper spray. Both protesters and officers suffered injuries, and authorities detained 71 people for acts of vandalism.

The opposition coalition PP-DB blamed "provocateurs" for instigating the violence. President Rumen Radev called for the government's resignation in a social media post, stating that early elections are the only solution. The PP-DB alliance warned that a no-confidence vote would be launched if the government failed to step down this week. Zhelyazkov, however, rejected resignation ahead of the euro adoption scheduled for January 1, 2026.

Bulgaria has been governed by a pro-Western coalition since January 2025. The minority government, comprising conservatives, socialists, and populists, was formed following the country's seventh parliamentary election in three and a half years. The administration relies on support from a fourth party, the DPS, which faces criticism and international sanctions for corruption against its leader, Delyan Peevski.

Author: Zoe Harrison