SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s government resigned Thursday after massive protests swept the country, just weeks before the European Union country is set to join the euro zone.
The minority coalition led by the center-right GERB party announced the resignation minutes before parliament was scheduled to vote on a no-confidence motion brought by the opposition over economic mismanagement, a motion backed by growing public anger over widespread corruption.
“The government will resign ahead of today’s vote of no confidence,” Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told reporters in parliament.
Wednesday’s demonstrations followed last week’s protests over the government’s budget plans to raise taxes, increase social security contributions and increase spending. The government later withdrew its controversial 2026 budget plan.
The protesters’ demands have expanded to include calls for the center-right government to step down.
“The National Assembly’s decisions are meaningful only when they reflect the will of the people,” Zhelyazkov said of the anti-government protests. “We want to be who society expects us to be.”
Students from Sofia University also joined the protest, which organizers said exceeded last week’s rally that attracted 50,000 people. Media estimates based on drone images put the number of protesters at more than 100,000.
Central to the protesters’ frustration is the role of Bulgarian politician and oligarch Delyan Peevski, who is subject to US and UK sanctions and whose MRF New Beginnings party also supports the government. Pejewski is accused by his opponents of helping shape government policy in the interests of the oligarchs.
“We have no doubt that the government will receive support in the upcoming no-confidence vote. Regardless, the National Assembly’s decision is important as it reflects the sovereign will,” the prime minister said.
Zhelyazkov’s government has endured six no-confidence votes since his appointment in January, but this time the heavy participation of street protesters was a game-changer.
The resignation will be formally submitted to parliament on Friday, which must pass a resolution accepting the resignation. Following this formal process, President Rumen Radev will give the largest group in parliament the chance to form a new government. If it fails, the second largest group will get a chance before the president chooses a candidate.
If all attempts fail – which is likely – he will appoint a caretaker cabinet until new elections are held. Political analysts expect another vote – the eighth since 2021 – could produce a similarly highly divided parliament facing the difficult task of forming a stable government.
Arsen Vasilev, leader of the opposition We Continue Change-Bulgarian Democratic Union, called the government’s resignation “the first step towards making Bulgaria a normal European country.”
He added: “The next step on that path is to have fair and free elections, not ones compromised by vote manipulation like the last election.”
The Balkan country of 6.4 million people will switch from its currency, the lev, to the euro on January 1, becoming the 21st member of the euro zone. Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007.
