Bulgarian PM Zhelyazkov Resigns Amid Protests

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced his government's resignation on Thursday in Sofia, just minutes before parliament was set to vote on a no-confidence motion, amid weeks of mass protests demanding an end to corruption and economic mismanagement.

The decision by Zhelyazkov's center-right coalition, led by the GERB party and in power for less than a year, followed escalating demonstrations that drew tens of thousands of people to streets across the country, including major cities like Sofia. Protesters rallied against a proposed 2026 budget that included tax increases on dividends and higher social security contributions, measures critics viewed as exacerbating inflation and enabling graft ahead of Bulgaria's planned entry into the eurozone on January 1, 2026. Although the government withdrew the budget last week, the unrest persisted, with Wednesday's protests estimated by media using drone footage to involve over 100,000 participants, surpassing previous rallies that organizers said attracted more than 50,000. University students joined the crowds in Sofia's central squares, chanting for the cabinet's ouster and accusing leaders of ties to oligarchic interests.