Bulgarian PM Rosen Zhelyazkov Resigns Ahead of No-Confidence Vote Amid Nationwide Protests

The PM of a European country has resigned / Photo File (X/@tassagency_en)

Bulgaria witnessed a major political development as Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned along with his entire cabinet just minutes before Parliament was set to vote on the sixth no-confidence motion against his government.

According to state news agency BGNES, the resignation was announced while lawmakers prepared for the crucial vote scheduled at 1:30 p.m. local time. Before voting could begin, Pavela Mitova of the “There Is Such a People” party requested a 30-minute recess on behalf of her party. During this pause, the prime minister and cabinet members were absent from the chamber, and key leaders of the ruling GERB-SDS alliance — including party chief Boyko Borisov — were also not present.

In his resignation address, Zhelyazkov said that although he was confident the government could survive the no-confidence vote, a government ultimately derives legitimacy from public trust.
“When people take to the streets, the first duty of a government is to listen,” he said. “The people’s message is clear — they want this government to step down.”

The prime minister acknowledged widespread public discontent, noting that both young and elderly citizens had filled the streets in recent days. According to him, the frustration stemmed not merely from policies, but from governance style and political behavior.

Zhelyazkov maintained that despite difficult circumstances, his coalition government kept Bulgaria firmly aligned with its European direction and ensured economic stability. He also claimed that the government had passed next year’s budget, which he described as focused on social welfare and improving citizens’ purchasing power — a claim the opposition strongly disputed.

Zhelyazkov’s government had previously survived a no-confidence vote in September, securing 133 votes of support. This time, however, growing protests, political turmoil, and sustained public pressure drastically changed the political landscape.

Bulgaria will now move toward forming a caretaker government, with major decisions expected regarding the country’s political direction ahead of the 2026 elections.