Bulgarian government resigns after weeks of street protests against corruption

SOFIA – Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov handed in his government’s resignation on Dec 11 following weeks of street protests against its economic policies and perceived failure to tackle corruption.

Mr Zhelyazkov announced his resignation in a televised statement minutes before Parliament had been due to vote on a no-confidence motion.

The resignation comes shortly before Bulgaria is due to join the euro zone on Jan 1.

“Our coalition met. We discussed the current situation, the challenges we face and the decisions we must responsibly make,” Mr Zhelyazkov said, announcing the government’s decision to step down.

“Our desire is to be at the level that society expects,” he said. “Power stems from the voice of the people.”

Thousands of Bulgarians rallied late on Dec 10 in Sofia and dozens of other towns and cities across the Black Sea nation, the latest in a series of rolling demonstrations that have underlined public frustration with endemic graft and the failure of successive governments to root it out.

“We realise that the protest was against arrogance and conceit, this is not a social protest, but a protest for values,” Mr Zhelyazkov said.

“It was not a meeting of political opponents over policies, but over attitudes, and therefore it unites different components of Bulgarian society.”

Mr Zhelyazkov’s government last week withdrew its 2026 budget plan, the first drafted in euros, due to the protests.

Despite the retreat, demonstrations have continued in a country that has held seven national elections in the past four years, most recently in October 2024, amid deep political and social divisions.

“This (resignation) is the first step towards Bulgaria becoming a normal European country,” said Mr Asen Vassilev, the leader of the opposition We Continue the Change party.

“The next step... is to hold fair and free elections, not elections marred by electoral manipulation, as was the case with the last parliamentary elections,” Mr Vassilev added.

President Rumen Radev, who earlier this week urged the government to quit, echoed that sentiment.

“Between the voice of the people and the fear of the mafia, listen to the public squares!” he wrote in a message to lawmakers on Facebook.

Under Bulgaria’s Constitution, Mr Radev will now ask parties in Parliament to try to form a new government. If they fail, as appears likely, he will appoint an interim administration to run the country until new elections can be held.

Mr Zhelyazkov’s Cabinet will remain in office until a successor is elected.

Opposition parties and other organisations said they were protesting against plans to hike social security contributions and taxes on dividends to finance higher state spending. REUTERS