Thousands of people gathered on Tuesday at Sofia’s “Nezavisimost” Square to protest the government’s draft Budget 2026, in one of the largest demonstrations organized this year by the opposition coalition “We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria” (WCC-DB).
The protest targeted proposed tax hikes and increased social security contributions, which critics say will place unbearable pressure on workers and businesses.
The square, located at the heart of the city’s political district, quickly transformed into a sea of Bulgarian and European flags. Protesters chanted “Mafia” and “Resignation” as they filled the area known as the “triangle of power,” blocking traffic between the presidency, parliament and the Council of Ministers.
Actor Filip Bukov, one of the most vocal participants, condemned what he described as the government’s chronic mismanagement of public funds.
“I want the taxes I pay to go where they should — for salaries of medical personnel, for education, and for a functioning state,” Bukov said, warning that a higher dividend tax risked pushing more businesses into the shadow economy.
Tensions escalated sharply as groups of demonstrators attempted to block entrances to the National Assembly. Heavy police and gendarmerie cordons were deployed to secure access points, but protesters moved toward the building’s gates and stood directly before the police lines.
As clashes intensified, some protesters threw water bottles and noise bombs at officers positioned near Dondukov Boulevard and the National Art Gallery. Police urged restraint, but the atmosphere remained volatile into the early evening.
A white police bus, used to transport deputies and law enforcement, became a central symbol of the crowd’s defiance.
Demonstrators surrounded the vehicle, plastering it with stickers in scenes reminiscent of the 2013 anti-government protests sparked by the appointment of Delyan Peevski. Some pushed against the bus in an attempt to block its movement.
The gathering came as a parliamentary budget committee meeting was underway inside the National Assembly. The committee approved, on second reading, a 2-percentage-point increase in social security contributions and confirmed the budget of the national health fund — decisions that further inflamed the demonstrators outside.
Early arrivals began assembling around 1 p.m., closely watching the committee proceedings broadcast live on a large video wall. When the meeting ended, many moved toward the building’s entrances, hoping to confront lawmakers backing the controversial measures.
Several political leaders and public figures attended the demonstration, including WCC-DB MPs, former BSP leader Kornelia Ninova, and Deputy Prime Minister Iliyana Yotova, who expressed solidarity with the protesters. Their presence underscored the political weight behind the public anger swelling in front of parliament.
Opposition leaders and business groups have sharply criticized Budget 2026, claiming it unfairly shifts the financial burden onto private-sector employees while increasing pay for state officials, the army, the Ministry of Interior, and judicial staff.
Among the most disputed provisions are the planned rise in dividend tax from 5% to 10%, an increase in the minimum social security income to 1,213 leva (€620), and the maximum to 4,600 leva (€2,352). The proposed external state debt, set to reach €37.6 billion or 31% of GDP, has also drawn strong objections.
Many protesters formed a human chain around parliament, preventing deputies’ cars from leaving the area. Police intervened several times, creating protective corridors for lawmakers attempting to exit the building.
The protest followed earlier demonstrations this month by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). Major employers also boycotted talks at the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation, signaling deepening tensions between the government and economic stakeholders.
With the final vote on Budget 2026 scheduled for Thursday, the opposition has vowed to continue mobilizing supporters, raising the prospect of further unrest in the days ahead.