{"id":2520195,"date":"2025-12-11T15:23:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T20:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bulgarian-government-toppled-by-citizens-over-claims-of-corruption\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T15:25:33","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T20:25:33","slug":"bulgarian-government-toppled-by-citizens-over-claims-of-corruption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bulgarian-government-toppled-by-citizens-over-claims-of-corruption\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulgarian government toppled by citizens over claims of corruption"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbulgarian-government-toppled-by-citizens-over-claims-of-corruption%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2520195&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Bulgarian government, led by Prime minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, resigned following widespread protests triggered by accusations of corruption and embezzlement. Demonstrations were sparked by the country&#8217;s proposed 2026 budget, which introduced new taxes linked to Bulgaria&#8217;s planned adoption of the euro currency. Opposition parties and citizens accused the government of corruption, especially criticizing the influence of Parliament member Delyan Peevski, who is sanctioned internationally for political corruption. President rumen Radev supported the protests, condemning the governance as corrupt and calling for early elections. Zhelyazkov announced the government&#8217;s resignation and urged parliamentary parties to form a new majority,warning that failure to do so would lead to interim governance and possibly Bulgaria&#8217;s eighth election in four years.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Bulgarian government toppled by citizens over claims of corruption, embezzlement<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2378122\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The government of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bulgaria\/\">Bulgaria<\/a> has resigned from leadership after days of widespread protests. <\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced Thursday that his government would be relinquishing power following <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/protests\/\">mass protests <\/a>and preparing for possible future elections if a majority cannot be formed to replace them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3914696\/byron-york-commends-trump-pressure-campaign-nicolas-maduro\/\">Byron York commends Trump pressure campaign on Maduro: &lsquo;This is the way&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3914467\/nobel-peace-prize-winner-machado-escapes-venezuela\/\">Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado escapes Venezuela to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nobel-peace-prize-winner-machado-escapes-venezuela-to-finally-receive-award-in-norway\/\" title=\"... to finally receive award in Norway\">finally receive award<\/a> in Norway<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3913193\/zelensky-ukrainian-election-wartime-proposal\/\">Zelensky&#8217;s Ukrainian election proposal requires guarantees of security and legitimacy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Our coalition met, we discussed the current situation, the challenges we face, and the decisions we must responsibly make,&rdquo; Zhelyazkov said. &ldquo;Our desire is to be at the level that society expects &hellip; Power stems from the voice of the people.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announces that Bulgaria&rsquo;s government has resigned following mass protests at the Bulgarian Parliament in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Bulgarian News Agency via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;The government resigns today,&rdquo; Zhelyazkov told reporters after a meeting of the ruling parties&rsquo; leaders. &ldquo;People of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and religions have spoken out in favor of resignation. That is why this civic energy must be supported and encouraged.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Protesters took to the streets earlier this month following the announcement of the country&rsquo;s 2026 budget plan, the first such plan based on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/euro\/\">Euro currency<\/a>. Bulgaria is preparing to transition from the domestic lev to the pan-European legal tender on Jan. 1 as part of its entrance into the European Economic and Monetary Union.<\/p>\n<p>We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, the two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/venezuelas-opposition-held-congress-extends-term-after-disputed-vote\/\" title=\"Venezuela\u2019s opposition-held Congress extends term after disputed vote\">main opposition parties<\/a>, reportedly organized the estimated 50,000-person demonstrations, with accusations that the proposal increased taxes too steeply and was being used to veil <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/corruption\/\">corruption<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Zhelyazkov&rsquo;s government eventually withdrew the budget proposal, but mass demonstrations have continued for days.<\/p>\n<p>Preeminent in citizens&rsquo; concerns is the outsize role of Parliament Member Delyan Peevski, a politician sanctioned by both the United States and the United Kingdom for political corruption and manipulation on behalf of regional oligarchs. Peevski is believed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/can-josh-hawley-break-the-internet\/\" title=\"Can Josh Hawley Break the Internet?\">wield immense power<\/a> behind the scenes despite having no executive role in the government.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A student waves a Bulgarian flag as a swelling crowd of tens of thousands of Bulgarians fills Sofia&rsquo;s central square, demanding the government&rsquo;s resignation amid rising anger over corruption and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >contested economic policies<\/a>, in Bulgaria, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo\/Valentina Petrova)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Bulgarian head of state, President Rumen Radev, was among the most vocal supporters of the street protests against the prime minister and his government.<\/p>\n<p>Radev published a series of scorched-earth diatribes against the Zhelyazkov on social media in the days leading up to the resignation, accusing them of &ldquo;corruption,&rdquo; embezzlement, and administering a &ldquo;captured state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Bulgaria needs a real change that will lead to the rule of law and the restoration of statehood, and that is something that the current governing coalition cannot achieve,&rdquo; he told the public in an address aired on state broadcast BNT last week. &ldquo;An early election is the only way forward.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3913193\/zelensky-ukrainian-election-wartime-proposal\/\">ZELENSKY&rsquo;S UKRAINIAN ELECTION PROPOSAL REQUIRES GUARANTEES OF SECURITY AND LEGITIMACY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Zhelyazkov is now asking parties in parliament to form a majority and field a new government. If this is not possible, he is prepared to appoint an interim administration to govern while <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elections\/\">an election<\/a> is scheduled.<\/p>\n<p>It would be Bulgaria&rsquo;s eighth such election in just four years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bulgarian government resigns amid mass protests over corruption<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2520196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25344790809653.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[68659,68661,68662,68660,40137],"class_list":["post-2520195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-bulgarian-government","tag-citizen-protest","tag-corruption-claims","tag-government-toppled","tag-political-crisis"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25344790809653.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2520195"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2520199,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2520195\/revisions\/2520199"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2520196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2520195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2520195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2520195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}