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Bulgarians protest widespread graft and call for a fair election

SOFIA, Dec 18 — Thousands of Bulgarians protested across Sofia and other cities, waving Bulgarian and EU flags and demanding fair elections and judicial reform.
Pushing a contentious budget with higher taxes accelerated the movement, and the government withdrew its 2026 budget plan, the first drafted in euros, earlier this month.
Many citizens say they are tired of vote buying and oligarch influence, with protesters singling out Delyan Peevski sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom and backing MRF New Beginning.
Last week the cabinet stepped down, and President Rumen Radev is now consulting parties; if they fail to form a cabinet, he will appoint a caretaker government to organise the next snap election.
With January 1 approaching, the euro switch faces pressure without a stable government or budget, while repeated elections reflect political instability in Bulgaria's 6.4 million population.

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