https://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:16:36 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said he will step down on January 20, a move that has intensified speculation he is preparing to form his own political party and run in upcoming snap parliamentary elections following the government’s resignation last month. https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgarian-president-radev-resignation-elections/33654099.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgarian-president-radev-resignation-elections/33654099.html Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:28:42 +0100 NewsBulgariaThe Rundown Stories Thousands rallied in Sofia after lawmakers reintroduced a budget plan that had sparked large protests earlier this month. Amid the show of anger on December 18, the budget was quickly withdrawn. The protest movement -- Bulgaria's largest in years -- had already forced the government to resign, although the lawmakers remain in a caretaker role until elections planned for next spring. https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protests-budget-corruption/33627365.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protests-budget-corruption/33627365.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 23:18:34 +0100 BulgariaVideo ArchiveVideos The Bulgarian government has resigned following a string of mass protests on the streets of Sofia. Crowds demanded the ouster over several issues, including its spending plan, corruption, a proposed hike in social-security contributions and taxes on dividends to finance higher state spending. https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-sofia-government-collapse-resignation-protest-demonstrations-corruption-spending/33620912.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-sofia-government-collapse-resignation-protest-demonstrations-corruption-spending/33620912.html Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:24:46 +0100 BulgariaVideo ArchiveVideos Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and his government resigned on December 11 following some of the largest protests in modern Bulgaria's history over a 2026 budget that would see taxes hiked and social-security contributions raised by a government many Bulgarians view as corrupt. https://www.rferl.org/a/33620656.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33620656.html Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:54:55 +0100 NewsBulgariaThe Rundown Stories Tens of thousands in Sofia took to the streets for the second mass protest within a month, demanding the resignation of the government over several issues, including its spending plan, corruption, plans to hike social security contributions and taxes on dividends to finance higher state spending. A no-confidence vote is scheduled in the Bulgarian parliament on December 11. https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protest-government-confidence-parliament-sofia-costs-working-business/33619988.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protest-government-confidence-parliament-sofia-costs-working-business/33619988.html Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:47:24 +0100 BulgariaVideo ArchiveVideos The chief of police in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, says violence was organized in advance of the largest protests the city has seen in decades. Opposition leaders have alleged that provocateurs hijacked a peaceful protest. https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protests-violence-organized-provocateurs/33612684.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protests-violence-organized-provocateurs/33612684.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:23:40 +0100 BulgariaThe Rundown Stories Bulgaria's government has withdrawn a state budget plan after facing the largest demonstrations the country has seen since the 1990s. Protesters gathered in the capital, Sofia, and other cities on December 1 to accuse the government of prioritizing its own salaries over the needs of workers. https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-sofia-protest-budget-workers-public-sector-salaries-taxes-resignation/33611054.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-sofia-protest-budget-workers-public-sector-salaries-taxes-resignation/33611054.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:13:48 +0100 BulgariaVideo ArchiveVideos Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Sofia and other Bulgarian cities to join protests late on December 1 against the ruling coalition's budget plans, forcing the government to withdraw them the next morning. https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protests-anger-corruption-budget-government/33610871.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-protests-anger-corruption-budget-government/33610871.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:54:57 +0100 BulgariaFeatures Tens of thousands of people rallied in Sofia demanding the withdrawal of Bulgaria’s 2026 draft budget, which critics say boosts state salaries while burdening the private sector. The December 1 protest escalated late in the evening, leading to clashes with police, injuries, and multiple detentions. https://www.rferl.org/a/protesters-demand-withdrawal-of-2026-budget-amid-clashes-in-sofia/33610821.html https://www.rferl.org/a/protesters-demand-withdrawal-of-2026-budget-amid-clashes-in-sofia/33610821.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:14:12 +0100 Bulgaria Authorities in Romania have arrested a former senator for allegedly attempting to offer a 1 million-euro ($1.16 million) bribe to the country’s defense minister to facilitate an arms deal that could be fraudulently financed by a European Union program. https://www.rferl.org/a/suspect-arrested-romania-bribe-ukraine-arms-purchase/33587466.html https://www.rferl.org/a/suspect-arrested-romania-bribe-ukraine-arms-purchase/33587466.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:51:22 +0100 FeaturesKazakhstanRomaniaUkraineBulgariaThe Rundown Stories The GPS navigation system of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's was jammed as it prepared to land over the weekend, Bulgarian officials said, sparking accusations of a Russian interference operation. https://www.rferl.org/a/suspected-russian-gps-interference-disrupts-von-der-leyen-plane-bulgaria/33518604.html https://www.rferl.org/a/suspected-russian-gps-interference-disrupts-von-der-leyen-plane-bulgaria/33518604.html Mon, 01 Sep 2025 13:06:56 +0200 NewsBulgariaThe Rundown Stories