27th June 2026.
Barely 2 months after the latest elections, people are already protesting demanding the resignation of the new PM (and former president), Rumen Radev.
People were changing “This is not Moscow” as Radev keeps using pro-Kremlin rhetoric and claims that he will oppose the new package of EU sanctions if the Russian patriarch remains on the list of sanctioned oligarchs.
Some Bulgarians see Radev’s behaviour as a turn towards Russia and they think that his words and actions are jeopardising the country’s position in the EU.
People are also unhappy with the new budget proposal which includes a very high deficit of 5.7% and increased borrowing. According to critics, the numbers are purposefully inflated, so the new government could embezzle some of the funds. The explanation of Progressive Bulgaria (Radev’s political party) is that the country’s finances were managed in a bad way by the previous governments and the actual deficit is over 7%.
Radev’s government, which has a significant majority, is seen by many in Bulgaria as incompetent and unprepared to govern the country.
People feel betrayed as Radev and his ministers did not stick to their election campaign promises to deal with the oligarchs and corrupt politicians, but are rather offering “more of the same”.
Big issue also remains the contract between a former Bulgarian care-taker government appointed by Radev when he was a persistent and the Turkish company BOTAS, according to which Bulgaria must pay approx. €5m every single day even without using any gas coming through Turkiye. Radev has claimed that the contract is good for Bulgaria while also celebrating his own claim that the Turkish side is ready to re-negotiate it, which makes the matter even more confusing. The contract is classed as classed as “secret” and ordinary politicians and journalists are not allowed access to it.
Radev has not commented on the protest.
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