Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev has said the government’s resignation is “inevitable” and called for early elections following mass protests over budget policies and allegations of corruption.

In a televised address, Radev accused the ruling coalition of losing public trust and failing to deliver meaningful change.

“Bulgaria needs genuine reform to restore state institutions, which the current government cannot provide,” he said.

The president described recent demonstrations as spanning all generations, arguing they reflected broader frustration with corruption, political inaction, and abuse of power rather than just the draft budget.

Radev criticised the coalition as divisive and unprincipled, warning that attempts to hijack the protest movement would undermine public confidence. He urged citizens to unite and take advantage of a “historic opportunity” for renewal.

Concluding, Radev stressed the need for radical reforms to rebuild trust in governance and the rule of law — reforms he argued the current administration is incapable of delivering.

The comment comes after thousands of people rallied in the Bulgarian capital Sofia and several other cities on Monday (December 1), protesting against the 2026 budget plan, the first drafted in euros before the European Union-member country adopts the common currency on 1 January.

Some protesters and police clashed, with police cordoning off offices of the ruling parties in Sofia

On 28 November, following similar protests, the minority government of Rosen Zhelyazkov pledged it would resubmit the 2026 spending plan to parliament, aiming to allow more time for consultations with opposition parties, trade unions and employers.

A parliamentary committee had adopted the budget plan on a first reading on 18 November.

Opposition parties and other organisations say they were protesting against the government's plans to hike social security contributions and taxes on dividends to finance higher spending, as well as state corruption

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