Overview
- Predominantly young demonstrators in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas accuse the government of corruption and demand its resignation.
- The protests began over the contested 2026 budget, which the cabinet withdrew after clashes at ruling party offices, with new proposals promised by year’s end.
- The opposition PP-DB organized the nationwide rallies, and its leader Assen Vassilev says change will come only with the government’s resignation.
- The coalition governs as a minority and depends on DPS support led by Deljan Peewski, who is under US and UK corruption sanctions.
- Prime Minister Rossen Scheljaskow rejects stepping down ahead of euro entry, while coalition leader Boiko Borissow signaled he will discuss resignations after 1 January.