Bulgaria’s president, Rumen Radev, will consult parliamentary groups next week as he seeks a new government after Rosen Zhelyazkov’s minority cabinet was toppled by mass anti‑corruption protests. If the largest factions cannot form a coalition, Radev is likely to appoint a caretaker cabinet and call elections in about two months. Analysts warn the vote — the eighth since 2021 — could produce a fragmented parliament and prolong instability just weeks before Bulgaria’s planned euro adoption on Jan. 1. A pro‑Russian party has also proposed delaying the euro entry, heightening tensions.
Bulgaria’s Government Falls — President Radev Opens Talks To Form New Cabinet Ahead Of Euro Switch
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announces that Bulgaria's government resigns following mass protests, at the Bulgarian Parliament in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Bulgarian News Agency via AP)
Bulgaria’s president, Rumen Radev, will begin consultations next week with parliamentary groups to explore options for forming a new cabinet after Rosen Zhelyazkov’s minority government was driven from office amid large anti-corruption protests.
What Happened
Rosen Zhelyazkov’s administration, appointed in January, had survived six previous no-confidence votes but was toppled on Thursday when tens of thousands of protesters rallied across the country demanding accountability and political change.
The Process Ahead
President Radev plans to invite the largest parliamentary faction first to try to form a government. If that faction cannot assemble a majority, the second-largest grouping will be given the opportunity. If neither succeeds — an outcome many analysts consider likely — Radev is expected to appoint a caretaker government to run the country until fresh elections are held in about two months.
Why It Matters
The next vote would be the eighth parliamentary election since 2021 and is widely expected to return a fragmented legislature, prolonging political instability at a sensitive moment: Bulgaria is preparing to adopt the euro on Jan. 1. Public concern about rising prices — which some officials say has been amplified by a Moscow-linked disinformation campaign — has dented enthusiasm for the currency switch.
Political Tensions And A Last-Minute Move
The pro-Russian Vazrazhdane party has submitted a draft resolution seeking a one-year delay to Bulgaria’s eurozone entry, citing the absence of a new budget and ongoing political turmoil. While the motion is unlikely to pass, it underscores the heightened political tensions ahead of the next election and the risk that the country’s pro‑Western course could be contested.
Looking Ahead
Some observers expect President Radev, a left-leaning critic of the outgoing government’s support for Ukraine, to form a new political party before the next parliamentary contest. Political analyst Ognyan Minchev warned that divisions among pro‑Western parties weaken the bloc’s ability to counter Kremlin influence.
“In Bulgaria, the political forces that can stop the Kremlin’s plan to control our country are divided by another major problem in Bulgarian politics,” said Ognyan Minchev, referring to infighting among the main pro‑Western parties.
Context: Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and is scheduled to adopt the euro on Jan. 1. The unfolding political crisis raises questions about how smoothly that transition will proceed.
