Thousands protest Bulgaria’s draft 2026 budget in Sofia

Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets of Sofia on Wednesday to protest the government’s draft budget for 2026, the first to be prepared in euros ahead of the country’s planned eurozone entry on 1 January 2026.

The rally, organised by the opposition coalition We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, drew an estimated 20,000 participants. Demonstrators formed a human chain around the parliament building and attempted to block the departure of lawmakers’ vehicles, prompting police intervention. Three officers were reported injured after protesters threw bottles and firecrackers.

Protesters criticised the draft budget for its economic impact on households and businesses. Key concerns include increased social security contributions, a doubling of the dividend tax, and a record government spending level approaching 46% of GDP. Critics warn the plan could fuel inflation and fail to address inefficiencies in public services such as health care and the judiciary.

The coalition government, comprising Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and There Is Such a People (ITN), with external support from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning, maintains a comfortable parliamentary majority. This makes the budget’s passage likely despite public opposition.

President Rosen Zhelyazkov’s administration defended the draft as a necessary step in Bulgaria’s transition to the euro, emphasising planned increases in pensions and healthcare wages. Nevertheless, economists and social groups have expressed concern over the potential “freezer effect” on incomes and the lack of accountability for public spending.

The protest, which lasted around three hours, concluded without major incident as parliament’s general session extended beyond the demonstrators’ planned departure time.

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