Thousands of demonstrators marched through Sofia and other major Bulgarian cities on Saturday, waving national flags and protesting the government’s plans to adopt the euro. Organized by civic groups and nationalist parties, the rallies called for a public referendum on the currency switch, just days before Bulgaria is expected to receive approval from Brussels to join the eurozone.
Protesters, many carrying banners reading “The battle for the Bulgarian lev is the last battle for Bulgaria,” chanted slogans such as “Freedom for the Bulgarian lev” and “The future belongs to sovereign states.” A heavy police presence ensured the demonstrations remained peaceful.
Bulgaria, the EU’s poorest member since joining in 2007, has faced years of political instability, fueling public distrust in European integration.
President Rumen Radev has bolstered anti-euro sentiment, proposing a referendum earlier this month citing concerns over purchasing power. However, the pro-European parliamentary majority rejected the motion, accusing Radev of acting in Moscow’s interests by attempting to derail Bulgaria’s eurozone bid amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Recent polls indicate nearly half of Bulgarians oppose replacing the lev with the euro. Critics argue the government has not done enough to protect vulnerable citizens from potential economic shocks. The protests come months after Bulgaria’s partial admission to the Schengen zone, another milestone in its EU integration.
Brussels is expected to greenlight Bulgaria’s euro adoption in June, but the growing resistance underscores deepening divisions over the country’s European future.