Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Jeliazkov presented this Thursday (11) the resignation of his government after weeks of demonstrations in the streets of the country against its economic policy and against the impression that it has failed to fight corruption. The measure was announced on national television, minutes before Parliament voted on a request for a motion of censure.
The protests intensified on Wednesday evening (10), when thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Sofia, and dozens of other cities. Analysts say these actions reflect growing discontent with corruption and the inability of successive governments to deal with it effectively.
Zheliazkov said the ruling coalition assessed “the current situation and challenges” before choosing to leave. “Our desire is to live up to society’s expectations,” he said. “Power comes from the voice of the people.”
The drop comes just days before Bulgaria joins the eurozone on January 1, one of the most important economic milestones in the country’s recent history. Last week, the government had already backed down by withdrawing the budgetary plan for 2026 – the first written in euros – after criticism.
Opposition parties and civil organizations said the plan aimed to increase social security contributions and taxes on dividends to finance increased state spending. The government’s withdrawal, however, was not accompanied by popular mobilization.
This resignation aggravates political turbulence in a country which has organized seven national elections over the past four years, the last in October 2024, without managing to stabilize the crisis in the face of divisions.
President Rumen Radev, who had already called for the departure of the government, put further pressure on this Thursday. In a message published to parliamentarians, he declared: “Between the voice of the people and the fear of the mafia. Listen to the public squares!”
With powers limited by the Constitution, Radev must now consult the parties represented in Parliament to try to form a new government. If there is no agreement – a scenario considered the most likely – the president will establish an interim administration until new elections are called.
Zheliazkov is a member of Gerb (Citizens for European Development), a center-right pro-European party, and took office in January. During the campaign, he said his government’s priorities would include protecting the rule of law and Bulgaria’s membership in the eurozone.
Although Bulgaria kept inflation at low levels for many years, it peaked in 2021 when Russia cut gas links to the country, and again in 2022 when Moscow invaded Ukraine. The country only managed to reduce inflation to close to the European target of 3% early last year.
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