Bulgaria’s reformist party Continue the Change (CC) on Tuesday distanced itself from acts of vandalism and violence that erupted during protests in the capital on Monday night.
The demonstrations, held against the proposed 2026 state budget, drew thousands of people to the square between the Parliament, the President’s Office, and the Council of Ministers. CC posted photographs on Facebook showing large numbers of peaceful protesters, saying in a statement that the disruptive actions “had different authors” and that the party “categorically distances itself from all acts of vandalism and violence.”
Earlier, CC co-chair Assen Vassilev and CC-DB MP Ivaylo Mirchev called on Interior Minister Daniel Mitov to resign, accusing him of failing to protect police officers during what they described as a peaceful protest.
Mirchev, leader of the Democratic Bulgaria party, said police cordons were withdrawn at a critical moment, allowing groups of aggressive football fans to mix with demonstrators. “For some reason, the police were pulled back. From Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard to Vasil Levski Boulevard there was not a single officer,” he told Bulgarian television.
The rally, organised by the “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria” coalition, later moved toward the headquarters of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), when tensions escalated. Mirchev described the aggressive groups as “paid agitators” with no connection to the legitimate protest, and said he had attempted to contact the interior minister, the prime minister, and GERB leader Boyko Borissov.
The protests are part of a broader wave of demonstrations across Bulgaria opposing proposed tax hikes and increases in social security contributions, underscoring growing public frustration with corruption and governance.