A sharp rise in counterfeit banknotes circulating has been registered, with the second quarter of 2025 seeing a record of fakes circulating, especially in the 100 leva bills, as Bulgaria stands on the verge of adopting the euro

PM Rosen Zhelyazkov has resigned after a vote of no confidence in parliament, following a series of mass street protests first against 2026 controversial budget, then scrapped, and lately against alleged corruption of minority centre-right government

Crowds took to the streets in Sofia and other cities on Monday night to protest against centre-right populists governing coalition GERB; the largest protests since the 1990s saw a major presence of young people who organized themselves via TikTok and IG

2026 state budget doubles the dividend tax on private businesses to fund a rise in public-sector wages despite criticisms by the opposition, professional associations and business analysts, widely seen as a way to satisfy loyal voters in the public sector