Overview
- Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stepped down minutes before a sixth no‑confidence vote, saying parliamentary decisions must reflect the will of the people.
- Weeks of nationwide rallies drew tens of thousands in Sofia and other cities, with protesters calling for resignation and no violence reported.
- The revolt began over a rushed 2026 draft budget; the government withdrew the plan and introduced a new version that delays tax and social‑contribution increases.
- Demonstrators denounced oligarch‑politician Delyan Peevski, sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom, accusing him of undue influence over institutions.
- The political upheaval comes as Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, with the disputed budget set as the country’s first calculated in euros.