Friday night at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia was transformed from a cultural landmark into a stage for nationalist fervor and anti-European sentiment, as nearly 3,000 people gathered under the banner of “saving the Bulgarian lev.”
The event, organized by the pro-Russian “Revival” party and allied euro skeptics, was officially advertised as a public discussion but quickly morphed into a politically charged rally marked by calls for civil unrest, conspiracy rhetoric, and harsh denunciations of the Bulgarian government’s push to join the eurozone.
Held in Hall 1 of the NDK, the event was framed by organizers as a “National Assembly,” with speakers declaring themselves the true representatives of the people.
Bulgarian and Russian flags waved side by side, as chants of “Resign!” reverberated through the hall each time the ruling coalition was mentioned.
“Revival” party leader Kostadin Kostadinov called on “100,000 people” to descend on Sofia for a mass protest on May 31, one day before the European Commission and European Central Bank are expected to release a convergence report that could greenlight Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone by January 2026.
Kostadinov painted the euro as a threat to national sovereignty and identity. “This is our last battle for the lev,” he declared, urging Bulgarians to resist what he labeled as an economic and cultural takeover by European elites. “The people must rise, and we will show the enslavers the power of the people.”
Fiery Speeches and Radical Rhetoric
The evening’s speaker lineup included former BSP MP Strahil Angelov, “Revival” MEP Petar Volgin, ex-Revival MP Viktor Papazov, and controversial media figure Nedyalko Nedyalkov, formerly of “PIK Media.”
The event was moderated by economist Deyan Nikolov, a former mayoral candidate in Sofia under the “Revival” banner. Nedyalkov stirred controversy with his incendiary address, stating that “the people have the right to revolt, including armed uprisings.”
He branded the eurozone “a moral and sexual perversion” and accused Parliament Speaker Natalia Kiselova of orchestrating a “coup d’état” by blocking a referendum proposal on euro adoption. His remarks drew loud applause from the largely elderly audience, many of whom held signs reading “Referendum” and “No to the Euro.”
In response to the blocked referendum, President Rumen Radev has announced his intention to appeal the decision before the Constitutional Court.
The court had previously declared a similar referendum unconstitutional in 2024, following an earlier attempt by “Revival” to halt Bulgaria’s eurozone integration.
Angelov took the rhetoric a step further, calling for weekly no-confidence votes in Parliament and announcing plans to send a declaration to international leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Slovak PM Robert Fico, seeking support against euro adoption.
Astrology, Anti-EU Claims, and the Return of Soviet Symbols
The event also featured a video message from Steve Hanke, the American economist credited with helping implement Bulgaria’s currency board in the 1990s.
Hanke reiterated his opposition to the euro, asserting that the current system works effectively and needs no change. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” he said. The speeches were laced with anti-European Union rhetoric, conspiratorial claims about COVID-19 vaccines, and homophobic language.
Outside the formal program, attendees signed a petition calling for the return of the Soviet Army monument to its former location in the Prince’s Garden — another symbolic gesture aligning the event with pro-Russian nostalgia.
In a bizarre twist, astrologers also joined the campaign against the euro. Just days before the rally, astrologer Silvia Doncheva published a horoscope claiming that the celestial alignment, led by Mars, favored “national resistance to preserve the Bulgarian lev.”
Spreading Protests Across Bulgaria
The nationalist energy unleashed at the NDK spilled into the streets across Bulgaria over the weekend. In Sofia, demonstrators blocked the iconic “Orlov Most” intersection for two hours, waving national flags and echoing the call for government resignation.
In Burgas, an initially small protest near a gas station grew into a road blockade on “Stefan Stambolov” Boulevard, causing significant traffic disruptions. In Plovdiv, citizens marched through the city center, demanding a referendum and denouncing the euro as a tool of foreign domination.
Many protesters framed their opposition to the euro in terms of historical preservation and national identity. “The lev is the last thing left of our independence,” said demonstrator Maria Topalova. “If we adopt the euro, we will dance to the EU’s tune and lose control over our finances and destiny.”
As May 31 approaches, “Revival” and its allies are treating the upcoming convergence report as a do-or-die moment. Kostadinov has repeatedly warned that Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone would mark “the end of our economic sovereignty.”
His party plans a large-scale protest in Sofia and parallel demonstrations in other cities, aiming to mobilize public resistance just before the European Commission’s decision.
From Inflation Fears to Political Radicalization
The anti-euro rhetoric has evolved over the past year. Initially centered on concerns about inflation and purchasing power, the discourse has grown increasingly conspiratorial and radical.
Now, critics claim that euro adoption is part of a broader attempt to dismantle democracy and impose foreign rule. Speakers at the NDK event accused pro-euro politicians of being “traitors” and vowed to “punish the elites.”
This hardline narrative is gaining traction among certain segments of the population, particularly older Bulgarians, who fear the erosion of national traditions and view the EU with suspicion. “We joined the EU to be partners, not subjects,” said one elderly attendee. “This is not the Europe we were promised.”
The growing momentum of the anti-euro movement poses a political challenge for the government, which has made eurozone entry a key strategic goal.
Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov has insisted that Bulgaria meets the economic criteria and that adopting the euro would stabilize the country’s economy and increase investor confidence.
What Lies Ahead
The convergence report from the European Commission and the European Central Bank, expected on June 1, will be a decisive moment in Bulgaria’s euro journey.
While the country has met many of the Maastricht criteria — including low inflation, stable currency, and sound public finances — political instability and public opposition could complicate the process.
Whether Bulgaria will indeed adopt the euro in January 2026 now hangs in the balance, not just on economic metrics but also on the political will to counter growing populist resistance.
For now, the streets of Sofia — and the hallways of the National Palace of Culture — echo with chants of defiance and a call to preserve a national symbol. As the political temperature rises, Bulgaria finds itself at a crossroads, torn between deeper European integration and a resurgent wave of nationalism.