Overview
- Parliament formally accepted Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s resignation, clearing the way for President Rumen Radev to invite parties to try to assemble a government.
- GERB leader Boyko Borissov has indicated he will decline the first mandate, increasing the chances of an interim cabinet and snap polls if subsequent attempts fail.
- The nationwide movement swelled to tens of thousands, with media drone estimates topping 100,000 in Sofia, and the large rallies ended peacefully.
- Protests were sparked by a divisive 2026 draft budget that proposed higher social contributions and dividend taxes; the government withdrew the plan and submitted a revised draft.
- Bulgaria is still slated to adopt the euro on January 1, a milestone now overshadowed by political uncertainty and the absence of a finalized 2026 budget.