Bulgarian Prime Minister and Cabinet Resign Amid Widespread Public Protests

On Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Bulgarian government, led by Prime Minister Rosen Plevneliev, formally announced its resignation. This pivotal decision was a direct consequence of escalating mass civil demonstrations sweeping across the nation. The head of the cabinet delivered this statement shortly before a scheduled sixth vote of no confidence, which had been initiated by the opposition party, We Continue the Change.

Plevneliev justified his action by citing the necessity of responding to the demands of the citizenry, asserting that governmental authority ultimately derives from the people. He noted, however, that the administration likely would have secured a majority vote in parliament. The initial spark for the widespread public discontent was the draft national budget for 2026, unveiled in November. This proposal included a deficit projection equivalent to 3% of GDP, coupled with planned increases in both taxation and social contributions.

Although the ruling coalition parties withdrew the contentious bill on December 2, the underlying protest sentiment evolved into a broader movement. This new focus centered squarely on tackling systemic corruption and addressing perceived inefficiencies within the state administration. The intensity of the public outcry reached its peak on Wednesday evening, when between 50,000 and 100,000 individuals gathered in Sofia’s Independence Square, demanding immediate resignations.

Adding significant weight to the opposition parties' demands, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev publicly called for the cabinet to step down and for the immediate scheduling of snap elections. Prime Minister Plevneliev, who had been leading the government since the beginning of 2025, had previously expressed reluctance to vacate office. His primary concern was the critical juncture the country faced: less than three weeks remained before Bulgaria’s scheduled entry into the Eurozone on January 1, 2026. Despite his reservations, the no-confidence vote proceeded following the resignation announcement but ultimately failed, meaning the ministers will remain in their posts until a successor cabinet is confirmed.

Plevneliev’s coalition government was established with the backing of several parties, including GERB, BSP, and ITN, with the stated objective of securing the country's pro-European trajectory. Nevertheless, in recent weeks, the administration faced intense scrutiny. A significant point of criticism involved the alleged informal influence exerted over the government, security services, and the judiciary by Delyan Peevski, an unofficial partner to the cabinet. Peevski is currently under sanctions from both the United States and the United Kingdom due to corruption allegations. Protesters frequently voiced slogans explicitly targeting both Peevski and former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

This current political turbulence unfolds precisely as preparations for the Euro adoption are underway, raising serious questions about the continuity of governance. Under the established constitutional framework, President Radev is tasked with first proposing a candidate for Prime Minister from the largest parliamentary group, followed by the second largest. Historically, Bulgaria has experienced substantial anti-government demonstrations before, notably during the 2020–2021 period, which ultimately led to the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and subsequent reshuffles in government personnel.