Amid widespread anti-corruption demonstrations, Bulgaria's government resigns

Bulgaria has been thrown into a fresh political crisis after Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and his centre-right government resigned on 11 December, bowing to weeks of mounting public anger over corruption and economic hardship. The decision came shortly before MPs were due to hold a no-confidence vote that analysts widely expected the government to lose — a dramatic turn of events for a country preparing to join the eurozone next year.

The resignation followed some of the largest street demonstrations Bulgaria has witnessed in recent years. For much of the autumn, thousands of protesters crowded into central Sofia and rallied in towns across the country, demanding an end to entrenched graft and calling for long-promised reforms. Young people, anti-corruption activists and opposition supporters were heavily represented among the crowds, many of whom accused those in power of failing to address everyday financial pressures facing Bulgarian households.

Critics said the government had become increasingly disconnected from voters, citing long-standing concerns over public-sector transparency and weak institutional oversight. Bulgaria’s ongoing struggles with low wages and rising living costs only fuelled frustration, with many arguing that ministers had not acted quickly or decisively enough to protect families from economic strain.

The government’s collapse comes at a particularly sensitive moment. Bulgaria — the European Union’s poorest member state — is due to adopt the euro on 1 January 2026. Officials have long portrayed the move as a crucial step towards greater economic stability and deeper integration with the EU.

He will first seek to determine whether any group of parties can form a viable coalition, although deep divisions within the fragmented parliament suggest this may be unlikely. Should talks fail, Bulgaria could face another caretaker government and possibly yet another early election — continuing a cycle of instability that has plagued national politics for several years.

For many Bulgarians, the coming weeks will reveal whether political leaders can finally deliver meaningful reform or whether the latest turmoil will further erode public trust in the country’s governing institutions.