Protests against Bulgaria’s proposed 2026 state budget escalated on Monday, with demonstrators marching to the headquarters of the DPS (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) and vandalizing a GERB party office in central Sofia.
Demonstrators had gathered in Independence Square in the early evening before marching along major boulevards, chanting for the resignation of the government and demanding the withdrawal of the budget. According to organizers from the PP-DB coalition, provocateurs were responsible for the escalation near the DPS headquarters.
Clashes with police involved projectiles, burning trash bins, and tear gas. Journalists covering the protests were among those injured. Police sought to contain the unrest, while tram services were disrupted, and some city areas experienced temporary power outages.
In Sofia’s Oborishte district, protesters broke windows, destroyed furniture, and set fire to the GERB office, according to local reports. Pavement stones were reportedly hurled at the building.
President Rumen Radev condemned the violence on Facebook, describing the unrest as “provocation by the mafia aimed at confronting the public.” He called for the resignation of the government and early elections.
DPS-Novo Nachalo leader Delyan Peevski also condemned the demonstrations, accusing political rivals of exploiting young people to provoke chaos. Meanwhile, PP-DB leaders urged participants to remain peaceful, emphasizing that the protests should not devolve into violence.
The protests extended nationwide, with large gatherings reported in Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Sliven, Pleven, Yambol, Dobrich, Veliko Tarnovo, and internationally in Vienna. In Plovdiv, demonstrators blocked central streets, chanting slogans against corruption and calling for government resignations.
The demonstrations come after earlier protests last week, which led GERB leader Boyko Borisov to urge the government to withdraw the proposed budget. Officials have pledged renewed dialogue with unions and employers to resolve tensions.
Police set up nine checkpoints in Sofia to control the flow of protesters, particularly around the “Triangle of Power,” the area encompassing the Parliament, Council of Ministers, and Presidency.
As of late evening, authorities reported ongoing clashes, particularly around the DPS and GERB headquarters, while protesters continued to call for the resignation of government officials and systemic reforms.