Bulgarian PM And Cabinet Resign After Massive Anti-government Demonstration Strikes

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov/DOK PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - Bulgaria's government cabinet stepped down amid mass protests that hit the country just weeks before joining the euro zone.

The resignation of the minority coalition, led by the central-righter GERB party, was announced minutes before parliament was scheduled to vote on the no-confidence motion proposed by the opposition.

Motion can't believe this was triggered by mismanagement of the economy and supported by growing public anger over widespread corruption.

"Ahead of today's no-confidence vote, the government is stepping down," Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told reporters in parliament.

The demonstration on Wednesday came after last week's protests sparked by the government's budget plan for higher taxes, increased social security contributions, and increased spending. The government then withdrew the controversial 2026 budget plan.

The demands of the protesters have expanded to include calls for the right-wing government to step down.

"The decision of the National Assembly is meaningful when it reflects the will of the people," said Zhelyazkov, referring to the anti-government protests. "We want to be where the people expect us to be," he said.