Thousands rally in Sofia against Bulgaria’s 2026 budget, claiming it masks corruption and will buy votes ahead of eurozone entry
SOFIA: Several thousand protesters rallied in front of Bulgaria’s parliament on Wednesday against a draft 2026 budget they claim masks widespread corruption.
Demonstrators surrounded the building in the capital to prevent lawmakers from leaving while calling on “mafia” politicians to resign.
Protesters held signs reading “No to shady deals” and demanded government accountability.
The budget proposal includes tax hikes and public sector salary increases, but critics say corrupt financial institutions will misuse the funds.
“In my opinion, these funds will be used to buy votes,” protester Maria Sirakova, 50, told AFP.
Law student Ivana Ivanova argued the proposal would “only restrict the private sector’s willingness to invest”.
“We chose to stay in Bulgaria, but not in a Bulgaria of dubious dealings,” the 20-year-old added.
While organised by the pro-European CC/BD alliance, the rally also drew support from far-right and pro-Russian movements.
Parliament is expected to approve the draft budget in the first week of December.
This will be Bulgaria’s first budget calculated in euros as the country joins the eurozone on January 1.
The broad coalition government insisted its “priority” was to “ensure the long-term durability of the public finances” in the EU’s poorest country.
Bulgaria ranks among the most corrupt EU member states alongside Hungary and Romania on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. – AFP
