Bulgaria’s Government Collapse After Mass Protests

In early December 2025, Bulgaria entered one of its most turbulent political periods in years. Weeks of mass nationwide protests erupted beginning in late November, triggered by public outrage over the government’s 2026 budget proposal, which included higher taxes and increased social-security contributions. Although the draft budget was ultimately withdrawn in an attempt to quell discontent, demonstrations continued and expanded into broader demands for accountability and an end to perceived deep-rooted corruption in Bulgarian politics. Tens of thousands of citizens, many of them young people, rallied in Sofia and other major cities, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s cabinet. On 11 December 2025, Zhelyazkov announced the resignation of his minority coalition government — led by the center-right GERB party with partners including BSP and ITN — just minutes before a scheduled no-confidence vote in parliament. The decision reflected mounting pressure from both protest movements and political opponents who argued the coalition had failed to tackle corruption and lost public trust. On 12 December, the Bulgarian National Assembly unanimously approved the resignation, and the cabinet continues in a caretaker role pending the formation of a new government or snap elections early next year. The political crisis unfolds just weeks before Bulgaria’s planned entry into the eurozone on 1 January 2026, highlighting deep societal divisions and the ongoing challenge of political stability in the country.