By VESELIN TOSHKOV
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Tens of thousands joined the latest massive protests across Bulgaria on Wednesday, accusing the government of widespread corruption and underscoring political rifts just weeks before the country is to join European nations that use the euro as the official currency at the start of next year.
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The protesters’ demands have since expanded to include calls for the center-right government of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to resign.
In the capital, Sofia, protesters gathered on a central square where the parliament, the government and the presidency buildings are located. Chanting “Resignation” and “Mafia,” they called on Zhelyazkov’s minority coalition Cabinet to step down.
Students from Sofia’s universities joined the protests, which organizers said outnumbered last week’s rallies that drew over 50,000 people. Media estimates based on drone visuals put the number of protesters at over 100,000.
At the core of the protesters’ frustrations is the role of Bulgarian politician and oligarch Delyan Peevski, who has been sanctioned by both the United States and Britain, and whose MRF New Beginning party backs the government. Peevski has been accused by opponents of helping shaping government policy in line with oligarchic interests.
TOPSHOT – This drone aerial photograph shows the crowd as tens of thosands of protesters gather in central Sofia to demonstrate against the Buglarian government, in Sofia on December 10, 2025. Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December 10, 2025 widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union’s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro. (Photo by Dobrin KASHAVELOV / AFP via Getty Images) Protesters wave Bulgarian and EU flags during an anti-government demonstration in Sofia on December 10, 2025. Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December 10, 2025 widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union’s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro. (Photo by DIMITAR KYOSEMARLIEV / AFP via Getty Images) Thousands of protesters take part in an anti-government demonstration in Sofia on December 10, 2025. Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December 10, 2025 widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union’s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro. (Photo by DIMITAR KYOSEMARLIEV / AFP via Getty Images) A protester holds a placard which reads as “I don’t want custom-made sentences in my Bulgaria” as he takes part in an anti-government demonstration in Sofia on December 10, 2025. Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December 10, 2025 widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union’s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro. (Photo by DIMITAR KYOSEMARLIEV / AFP via Getty Images) Show Caption1 of 4TOPSHOT – This drone aerial photograph shows the crowd as tens of thosands of protesters gather in central Sofia to demonstrate against the Buglarian government, in Sofia on December 10, 2025. Tens of thousands of people held anti-government protests in Bulgaria on December 10, 2025 widening an anti-corruption movement sweeping the European Union’s poorest country as it prepares to adopt the euro. (Photo by Dobrin KASHAVELOV / AFP via Getty Images) ExpandNo violence was reported and the protests ended peacefully.
Also on Wednesday, the opposition coalition We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria called for a no-confidence vote in the government. The vote, the sixth such motion by the opposition, will take place on Thursday.
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev wrote on Facebook that Wednesday’s demonstrations were in effect a vote of “no confidence in the Cabinet.”
Radev, an opponent of the government who hails from the political left, urged the lawmakers to listen to the people and to “choose between the dignity of free voting and the shame of dependence” when they vote on Thursday.
Bulgaria is soon to become the 21st member of the eurozone, a euro currency union that is a key EU project aimed at deepening ties between member countries. The Balkan country of 6.4 million people is to make the switch from its national currency, the lev, to the euro on Jan. 1.
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