Bulgaria's Government Resigns Amid Mass Protests

Did the cabinet fail Bulgarians by ignoring urgent needs, or did it succeed in delivering historic achievements?
Bulgaria's Government Resigns Amid Mass Protests
Above: Rosen Zhelyazkov at Palazzo Chigi, in Rome, on Dec. 1, 2025. Image credit: Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

The Spin

Government-critical narrative

Zhelyazkov's government completely failed the Bulgarian people by obsessing over euro adoption while ignoring urgent public needs. The administration proved itself arrogant, incompetent and corrupt, prioritizing technocratic goals over addressing the real concerns that are driving citizens into the streets. Mass protests forced this resignation because the government lost all legitimacy through its disconnection from ordinary Bulgarians.

Pro-government narrative

The Zhelyazkov government delivered historic achievements for Bulgaria's future, securing eurozone entry and full Schengen membership without a single corruption scandal in 11 months. Resignation was a strategic choice to preserve these gains, not an admission of failure. Young protesters are right to dream big and those dreams became reality precisely because Zhelyazkov succeeded where previous administrations failed for years.

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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.1

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.1