Tens of thousands protested across Bulgaria against the 2026 budget bill and alleged government corruption. In Sofia, clashes erupted outside the National Assembly as demonstrators threw stones and firecrackers, prompting police to use tear gas. Two officers were injured and 10 people detained.
Protesters also objected to planned tax increases and Bulgaria’s upcoming switch to the euro, fearing price hikes and loss of sovereignty. President Rumen Radev blamed “mafia provocations” for the violence and called for the government’s resignation and early elections. The euro is scheduled to be adopted on January 1, 2026.
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