The shadow economy remains high, at 33% and Bulgaria shows the highest tolerance for the shadow economy compared to the rest of the European Union according to a study by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Political chaos has created a media vacuum in which citizens are vulnerable to disinformation and Kremlin-led narratives proliferate; with highest rate of news avoidance and lowest media literacy in Europe, a better enforcement of existing rules is needed

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

Admirers of traditional Bulgarian carpet craftsmanship gathered for the "Iglika Kilim Fest," a celebration that turned the local meadows into an open-air museum of kilim, antique hand-woven rugs; 965 rugs were displayed across a ten-acre area

Centrist, anti-corruption political party We Continue the Change is facing unprecedented challenges, with its key figures targeted by institutions, potentially leaving pro-Russian nationalists as the only ‘opposition’ left in Bulgaria