Bulgaria’s prime minister Rosen Zhelyazkov offered to resign, following a wave of anti-corruption street protests, just weeks before the country is set to join the euro.
Zhelyazkov said he would submit his resignation before a vote of confidence later on Thursday, after tens of thousands of people took to the streets in protest against the parties backing his fragile pro-European government coalition. What began as an economic grievance quickly grew into a nationwide movement calling for accountability, transparency and new leadership.
His resignation will not stop Bulgaria’s entry to the euro at the start of 2026. Nevertheless, the long-brewing crisis underlines a growing sense of disquiet among many Bulgarians who believe membership of the EU which it joined in 2007 has failed to deliver any improvements in the rule of law.
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev will now invite the parliamentary parties to form a new government. If they fail — which is likely — he will appoint a caretaker Cabinet to govern the country until a new election is organized.
The Balkan country has held seven snap elections since massive anti-corruption protests in 2020 against Borissov government.
The mass protests that started in November were provoked by a controversial budget proposal that imposed higher taxes on the private sector while channeling more funds to the state sector.