Bulgarians protest against outgoing government over corruption

Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets on Thursday evening to protest against the outgoing government, demanding fair elections and judicial reforms to address what they describe as widespread corruption.

Protests were held in the capital, Sofia, and in several other towns and cities, forming part of a series of rolling demonstrations as the European Union’s poorest member state prepares to adopt the euro on 1 January.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned last week after weeks of unrest over corruption allegations and a proposed budget that would have increased taxes.

His government, which had been in office since January, had been expected to oversee Bulgaria’s transition to the single currency.

During Thursday’s rallies, demonstrators waved Bulgarian and EU flags and held placards criticising the government.

“Everything about it is extremely brazen and shameless,” said Shisman Nikolov, a 48-year-old salesman. “Such arrogant behaviour defines this government.”

President Rumen Radev is holding consultations with political parties to try to form a new administration. If those talks fail, he is expected to appoint an interim government and call a snap election.

Bulgaria, a NATO member, has held seven national elections in the past four years, with successive governments struggling to secure stable parliamentary majorities.

Earlier this month, the government withdrew its 2026 budget proposal — the first drafted in euros — after opposition parties and civil groups objected to plans to raise social security contributions and taxes on dividends to fund higher state spending.

Kalina Yurukova, a 21-year-old student, said the protests reflected deep public anger.

“For people who act as if they are above everyone else and show no shame, I cannot have respect,” she said.

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