Overview
- Bulgaria will adopt the euro on 1 January as the bloc’s 21st member, with lev and euro accepted through 31 January before euro-only payments take effect.
- Polls show a near-even split in public opinion and “keep the lev” protests, with far-right, pro-Russia parties vocal in opposition.
- Investigations and EU officials cite Russian-linked disinformation networks seeking to erode support for the currency switch.
- A protracted political crisis—seven elections in four years and a government resignation after anti-corruption protests—raises concerns about managing the transition.
- The ECB expects only a modest, short-lived price impact of roughly 0.2–0.4 percentage points, while officials highlight savings for small firms, potential tourism gains and Bulgaria’s new seat at the ECB’s policy table.