A political revolution has been seen in Bulgaria as Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and his government resigned on Thursday due to mass protests in the country. This has occurred just 20 days before Bulgaria’s entry into the euro zone.
A no-confidence vote in parliament has also been planned. This has been due to widespread corruption in Bulgaria reported by citizens, which has led to unprecedented protests in Sofia, as well as other major Bulgarian cities.
🚨⚡️BREAKING
Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Rosen Zhelyazkov, announces the resignation of his government.
The resignation came days after widespread protests swept through the country against corruption, demanding the government’s downfall and the holding of officials… pic.twitter.com/g4AnJ8Yv0O
— RussiaNews 🇷🇺 (@mog_russEN) December 11, 2025
What Triggered the Unrest?
A draft budget for 2026 sparked anti-government protests, which were believed to cover up corruption in the government. Some 50,000 to 100,000 protesters gathered in Sofia’s Triangle of Power and Independence Square, calling for a stop to government mismanagement. Chants such as “Resignation! Peevski and Borissov Out of Power” showed discontent with oligarch Delyan Peevski and former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, who were both known for their corruption.
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“We hear the voice of citizens protesting against the government. Young and old people have raised their voices for our resignation. This civic energy has to be supported and encouraged,” said Zhelyazkov in a televised address. The ministers would stay in their posts until a new cabinet is formed.
Who is Rosen Dimitrov Zhelyazkov
A member of GERB, a political party, Rosen Dimitrov Zhelyazkov was elected as the Prime Minister of Bulgaria in 2025. His political journey involves being Minister of Transport from 2018 to 2021, Member of the National Assembly from 2021-2025 and Speaker of National Assembly from 2023 to 2024. His period as a prime minister has seen him grappling with political crises.
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What is the Historical Context
Bulgaria, which remains on record as the poorest member country in the European Union, has experienced further bouts of political turmoil. This follows huge anti-government protests in 2020 against three-term prime minister Boyko Borissov with a total of seven sudden elections being held. The government of Zhelyazkov itself has seen five successive no-confidence votes.
What are International & Internal Implications
Despite the resignation, Bulgaria’s entry into the euro zone for 1 January remains on course. However, this political instability reflects that Bulgaria has yet to resolve its corruption issues. Transparency International has long placed Bulgaria in a list of most corrupted members of the European Union.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects publicly available news reports and statements.
