People in Bulgaria – in the capital Sofia and other major cities – are protesting against the government’s plans to introduce the euro and demanding a referendum on the new currency.
The protest comes days before the publication of an assessment of Bulgaria’s readiness to introduce the euro from 1 January 2026.
According to the local Radio Liberty service, the demonstration in Sofia under the slogan “Save the Bulgarian Lion” was organised by the Renaissance party, the third largest political force in parliament, which often advocates anti-European positions.
Its leader, Kostadin Kostadinov, called for a new protest on Wednesday, a day when the European institutions’ assessment of Bulgaria’s readiness to join the eurozone is expected to become clear.
In Sofia, several thousand protesters gathered in Independence Square. The notice of the demonstration in the capital was filed by the Revival party, Radio Liberty was informed at the mayor’s office.
Revival leader Kostadinov called for “100,000 people” to protest in Sofia on 31 May. But there were several thousand people at the protest on Saturday.
Participants carried placards reading “we don’t want the euro”, “we choose the lion”, “Freedom to the Bulgarian Lion, death to the euro”, as well as Bulgarian flags and flags with the logo of the Revival party.
Protests against Bulgaria’s membership in the eurozone took place in Plovdiv, Varna, Stara Zagora, Blagoevgrad and other cities. In Ruse, protesters blocked traffic at the exit of the city.
In February, Bulgaria also protested against the changeover to the euro, then protesters tried to storm the EU representation office.
The reports for Bulgaria are expected to be published on 4 June. If the assessment is positive, the country will join the eurozone from January 2026.
Most parties in Bulgaria’s parliament have declared their support for the introduction of the euro, which was one of the conditions for joining the European Union in 2007.
President Roumen Radev had earlier in May called for a referendum on whether Bulgaria should adopt the euro in 2026. But the speaker of parliament left his request pending, arguing that such a referendum would be unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court has already ruled on such a referendum on a similar issue, as requested by the Renaissance Party.