US EditionThousands protest in Bulgaria before budget with steep tax increases gets final approval
Tens of thousands protested proposed tax hikes and record government spending, forcing the withdrawal of Bulgaria's 2026 budget amid economic and corruption concerns.
- On Thursday, Bulgaria's government announced it was withdrawing its 2026 draft budget after street protests in Sofia over steep tax increases ahead of the National Assembly vote.
- The draft budget would raise key levies, proposing a 2 percentage point hike in state pension/social security contributions and doubling the dividend tax to 10%, while critics flagged record spending near 46% of GDP.
- Organizers estimated turnout at over 20,000, with one organiser citing 50,000 in Sofia; protesters began gathering at 6 pm, forming human chains around the National Assembly, while clashes led to pepper spray, arrests and injuries.
- Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said the cabinet will resubmit the 2026 budget after talks with parliamentary groups and social partners, while President Rumen Radev demanded resignation and early elections, saying `There is only one way out: resignation and early elections`.
- As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, opposition and business groups warned higher taxes and spending could hurt investment and expand the shadow economy.
62 Articles
62 Articles
Last week and again on Monday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Bulgaria. The reason for the biggest demonstrations in years was the government's budget for 2026, which provides for an increase in taxes and levies. Corruption charges are also in place. In Sofia, riots and clashes between demonstrators and the police have also occurred.
While the Germans simply accept the black-red debt explosion, the Bulgarians go to the streets. The pressure of the road forced the government to steer. The budget for the coming year will be revised. Bulgaria burns. The government presented a budget monster for 2026: record expenditures, rising taxes, higher social security contributions. The bill for this should pay the citizens. Each of the 1.9 million workers already now has a theoretical bu…
Bulgaria's government withdraws controversial budget after major protests
Bulgaria’s government said Tuesday it is withdrawing a controversial budget proposal after protests against it drew tens of thousands of people and saw clashes between police and protesters. Opposition and business groups have warned that plans for higher taxes, increased…
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