PM Rosen Zhelyazkov: The Government Resigns (update)

"Our coalition came together and discussed the discussed the situation,” PM Zhelyazkov said on December 11. “We have no doubt that in the upcoming vote of no confidence the government will receive support. Regardless of that, the decisions of the National Assembly matter when they reflect the will of the people,” he pointed out. “Our desire is to be at the level that society expects. As set out in the Constitution, power derives from the sovereign and the voice of the people,” he said.

As we have stated repeatedly, we hear the voice of the citizens who are protesting. We hear it consciously. Therefore, we should rise to meet their demands. Their demand is for the resignation of the government. This is the current moment. People of all ages, from different ethnicities and religions, have called for this resignation,” said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.

“The government is resigning,” Zhelyazkov announced. He said this is the appropriate moment for the resignation.

Photos by Dessislava Kulieva, BNT

According to Zhelyazkov, a major challenge lies ahead. He added that this cabinet came into office as the result of a complex coalition between parties diverse in political nature, history, and character, yet united in the goal of keeping Bulgaria on its European path of development.

“Bulgaria should stand among the European states that, over centuries, have shown they can build the European Union. We must complete the cycle of our EU membership by joining the eurozone. We promised macroeconomic stability — and we achieved it, with unprecedented revenue growth. We will meet the 2025 budget framework. We have proposed a social-protection budget for 2026 aimed at increasing purchasing power. This could not be fully explained, or perhaps our opponents simply chose not to understand it,” Zhelyazkov commented.

According to Zhelyazkov, the protests are about values and attitudes.

“We recognise that the protests were against arrogance and overconfidence. They were protests assessing how values — as understood in the democratic world — are implemented. These protests are about values. They are not social protests. They are not protests against political opponents’ policies. They are protests about behaviour and attitude. That is why they bring together ideologically diverse components of Bulgarian society. This civic energy must be supported and encouraged. I stated this yesterday to the ministers, and I state it responsibly today. It must be encouraged, because the world faces many challenges, and defending democracy is among the greatest challenges for any conscious nation.

“Unfortunately, this challenge will not allow this government to guide the country calmly through the first months of 2026 — a path that only an experienced government, familiar with administrative responsibilities and capacities, could manage. Yet citizens seem to leave this in the background,” Zhelyazkov added.

According to the Prime Minister, the protests and demands must now produce authentic guidance on how citizens envision governance during the transition to elections and beyond in 2026.

“What should the profile of government be, and how will citizens’ rights be protected — questions that are likely to become social concerns? These should be addressed by citizens to the leaders of the protests. They should put forward their formal leaders and their vision for governance in the turbulent months ahead. This is not a challenge directed at Asen Vassilev, Bozhidar Bozhanov, Atanas Atanasov, or even President Rumen Radev,” Zhelyazkov emphasised.

He added:

He added: “If Parliament does not pass the State Budget Act, the Social Security Budget Act, and the Health Insurance Fund Act by the end of this month, the government will submit an extended budget and will fulfil this commitment.”