Bulgarian PM announces government resignation after mass protests

SOFIA -- Bulgaria's coalition government led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned on Thursday, a day after thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets in nationwide protests.

Zhelyazkov announced the decision minutes before lawmakers voted on the sixth no-confidence motion against his government. The motion, brought forward by opposition parties over what they described as failures in economic policy, secured only 106 votes in the 240-seat parliament, well short of the majority needed for passage.

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

On Wednesday, tens of thousands of people protested across Bulgaria. They blamed the government for economic policies, especially for its 2026 draft budget, which has been withdrawn. Similar rallies have continued for weeks.

So far, Zhelyazkov has not formally submitted his resignation. His government was sworn in on Jan. 16 after snap elections in October 2024, the seventh parliamentary election in Bulgaria in three and a half years.