December 11, 2025, 1:45 p.mDecember 11, 2025, 4:17 p.m
After massive protests and allegations of corruption, the pro-Western Bulgarian government unexpectedly resigns. This was announced by Prime Minister Rossen Shelyaskov.
The Bulgarian government resigns.Image: keystone
In doing so, he anticipated the vote on a no-confidence motion by the opposition in Parliament, which was scheduled for (today) Thursday. However, Shelyaskov and his cabinet will continue to govern on an interim basis until a new government can be formed. It was initially unclear whether early elections would be necessary.
On Wednesday evening, tens of thousands across the country called for the government to resign. He now wants to meet this demand, said Shelyaskov. “Power comes from the sovereign and the voice of the people,” he said, according to the Bulgarian news agency BTA. The day before, Shelyaskov had signaled that he wanted to hold on: “It is not the time to leave the ship,” he said at the time.
“Power comes from the sovereign and the voice of the people”
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Shelyaskov
The protests in Bulgaria began two weeks ago – originally against the draft budget for 2026. After riots at party headquarters in the government camp, the cabinet withdrew the controversial budget. The demonstrators also accused the government of corruption.
Second most corruption
According to Transparency International (as of 2024), corruption in Bulgaria is estimated to be the second highest in the EU. Only Hungary is worse than Bulgaria in this ranking in the EU.
Shelyakov’s government, which consists of a pro-Western coalition, has only been in office since mid-January 2025. It was formed as a compromise solution after the seventh parliamentary election within three and a half years from conservatives, socialists and populists.
New currency meets resistance
This minority government is dependent on the support of a fourth party, the DPS, which is controversial among the opposition. The USA and Great Britain have imposed sanctions for corruption against DPS party leader Deljan Peewski, who is considered very powerful in Bulgaria.
The euro will be introduced in Bulgaria on January 1, 2026. The country has been a member of the EU since 2007 and will now become the 21st country in the euro zone. There is resistance to this in the country from the pro-Russian, nationalist opposition party Vasrashdane (Rebirth). (sda/dpa)