Overview
- Prime Minister Rossen Scheljaskow announced his resignation following weeks of demonstrations and before a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
- Organizers and reporters estimated that about 100,000 people rallied in Sofia on Wednesday in the largest protests in years.
- Unrest was triggered by a now-withdrawn budget draft that proposed higher social contributions, a dividend tax, and selective pay rises for state employees.
- Public anger focused on DPS power-broker Deljan Peewski and GERB leader Bojko Borissov, with Peewski under U.S. and U.K. sanctions since 2021 over alleged corrupt influence.
- The ousted minority cabinet relied on DPS votes, and if GERB fails to assemble a majority, an interim government and new elections are expected as debate over the planned Jan. 1 euro adoption continues.