Several thousand Bulgarians protested on Wednesday in front of the parliament in Sofia against the budget proposal for 2026

On Wednesday, several thousand Bulgarians protested in front of the parliament in Sofia, contesting the budget proposal for 2026, which includes salary increases in the public sector and tax hikes. The protesters, organized by the pro-European alliance CC/BD and supported by the far right, accused the government of corruption and of intending to use funds to buy votes.

Maria Sirakova, a protester, emphasized that there is no justification for the budget increases at the Ministry of Interior, given that crime has not decreased. Ivana Ivanova, a student, added that the budget restricts investments in the private sector. The budget proposal is set to be voted on in December, and Bulgaria will officially enter the eurozone on January 1.