Newsletters
Several thousand demonstrators blockaded Bulgaria's parliament building on Wednesday, encircling the structure to prevent lawmakers from departing as they protested a proposed 2026 national budget that critics characterize as a vehicle for entrenching government corruption.
The protesters, who gathered in the capital Sofia, demanded the resignation of what they termed "mafia" politicians and displayed signs reading "No to shady deals." The demonstration targeted a draft spending plan that includes both tax increases and higher public sector salaries, measures the government has presented as necessary fiscal reforms.
Opposition to the budget centers on concerns that Bulgaria's financial oversight institutions are too compromised by corruption to properly manage the additional revenue. Protesters argued that rather than improving public services, the funds would be diverted to illicit purposes.
Maria Sirakova, a 50-year-old protester, expressed skepticism about how authorities would deploy the budget's resources. "In my opinion, these funds will be used to buy votes," she said.
Ivana Ivanova, a 20-year-old law student participating in the demonstration, criticized the proposal's potential economic impact, arguing it would "only restrict the private sector's willingness to invest." She added that young Bulgarians who chose to remain in the country expected better governance: "We chose to stay in Bulgaria, but not in a Bulgaria of dubious dealings."
The pro-European CC/BD alliance organized the rally, though the demonstration drew support across Bulgaria's fragmented political spectrum, including from far-right and pro-Russian factions. This unusual coalition reflects widespread frustration with perceived government malfeasance that transcends traditional ideological boundaries.
Parliament is expected to vote on the budget proposal during the first week of December, with approval widely anticipated.
1 min read
The spending plan carries added significance as Bulgaria's first budget denominated in euros. The Balkan nation will officially adopt the common European currency on January 1, completing a transition years in the making.
When defending the proposal, Bulgaria's broad coalition government emphasized that its "priority" was to "ensure the long-term durability of the public finances" in what remains the European Union's poorest member state by economic output.
Bulgaria has long struggled with corruption perceptions. According to Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, the country ranks among the EU's most corrupt member states, alongside Hungary and Romania. The watchdog organization's assessments measure perceived levels of public sector corruption based on expert evaluations and business surveys.
3 min read
