Monday, 15 December 2025
Bulgaria’s political crisis deepened on Thursday after Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced the resignation of his coalition government following days of large-scale public demonstrations across the country.
The announcement was made shortly before members of parliament were due to vote on a motion seeking to remove the government from office. The initiative, brought forward by opposition parties, did not result in the cabinet’s formal dismissal, as the parliamentary session was unable to secure the necessary participation to complete the procedure.
According to parliamentary proceedings, a vote was initiated after the resignation statement, but it failed to meet the conditions required to move forward decisively. Several lawmakers from the governing coalition did not take part, leaving the chamber without sufficient attendance to sustain the process. As a result, the motion did not obtain the level of support required under parliamentary rules.
The government’s decision to step aside came amid sustained protests in Sofia and other major cities, where demonstrators voiced concerns over governance, economic pressures and institutional accountability. The rallies marked one of the largest waves of public mobilisation in recent months and placed growing pressure on the ruling alliance.
With the resignation submitted, the country now enters a transitional phase. The cabinet is expected to remain in a caretaker capacity until constitutional procedures determine the next steps, which may include efforts to form a new majority or the appointment of an interim government ahead of potential early elections.
The unfolding situation adds further uncertainty to Bulgaria’s political landscape, which has seen repeated changes in government and prolonged periods of instability in recent years.
