Sofia, 2 December 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The Bulgarian government on Tuesday withdrew its controversial draft budget for 2026 after large demonstrations in Sofia, just one month before the country is set to adopt the euro.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said new proposals are to be submitted by the end of the year as a concession amid pressure on his administration to resign.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the capital on Monday in protest against the budget, which was passed in a first reading in parliament.

Demonstrators have called for an increase in social security and pension contributions to be dropped while warning that the budget could leave room for corruption.

Organizers said 50,000 people were in attendance at a rally that began peacefully but ended in riots at the headquarters of one of the ruling parties. Masked individuals threw firecrackers, bottles, cans and other objects at the police, who used tear gas and pepper spray. 

Injuries were reported on both sides, while 71 people were arrested for vandalism.

The pro-Western PP-DB opposition alliance blamed "provocateurs" for the riots.

President Rumen Radev called for the government to resign on the night of the riots. "There is only one way out: resignation and early elections," he wrote on Facebook.

PP-DB declared that if the government did not resign this week, there would be a vote of no confidence.

Zhelyazkov has publicly ruled out resignations ahead of the currency switch, which is due to take effect on January 1, 2026.

MIA file photo