Bulgarian government collapses after weeks of mass protests

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned Thursday following weeks of huge protests against the government across multiple cities.

The announcement came shortly before the Cabinet faced another vote of confidence, the sixth since it took power in January of this year.

“We have no doubt that in the upcoming vote of no confidence, the government will receive support. But for us, the decisions of the National Assembly have meaning only when they express the will of the sovereign,” said Zhelyazkov.

A formal vote on government’s resignation must be taken at the next plenary session in parliament, where the coalition still holds a majority.

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 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 — but, ultimately, the budget was only the spark.

The real driving force behind the demonstrations has been broader dissatisfaction with the government itself. What began as an economic grievance quickly grew into a nationwide movement calling for accountability, transparency and new leadership.

“Our desire is to rise to the level of what society expects. At this moment, as the constitution dictates, power derives from the voice of the people. We hear the voice of the citizens protesting against the government,” Zhelyazkov said.

“Young and old, people from different ethnic groups have spoken out for the resignation. We support this civic energy and encourage it,” he added.

Bulgaria is preparing to adopt the euro on Jan. 1, with roughly half the population skeptical of the move amid fears of inflation, and disinformation spread by Russia aimed at undermining public support for the single currency.