Overview
- Payments in both lev and euro will be accepted through January 31 before Bulgaria moves fully to the euro in February.
- The conservative-led government resigned this month after mass anti-corruption protests, raising the prospect of yet another snap election.
- Polls show a divided public and active “keep the lev” protests, with opposition strongest among poorer and rural communities and older citizens.
- ECB President Christine Lagarde projects only a modest, short-lived inflation effect and highlights benefits such as smoother trade, lower financing costs, SME savings of roughly €500 million, and a seat at the ECB Governing Council.
- EU officials and investigators report Russian-linked disinformation efforts seeking to erode support for the currency switch.