Government's resignation filed in parliament. What are the reactions?

After a series of mass protests in Bulgaria, provoked by the government's budget for 2026, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has submitted the resignation of the Council of Ministers he heads to the National Assembly's registry. The vote on the resignation in parliament is expected to take place tomorrow, December 12. If it is approved, according to the Constitution, the president will hand over exploratory mandates to form a new government within the framework of the 51st National Assembly. If this fails, early parliamentary elections will be scheduled and a caretaker government will be appointed.

"The resignation is the first step towards Bulgaria becoming a normal European country," PP Chairman Asen Vassilev, part of the opposition PP-DB coalition that initiated the anti-government protests, said at a briefing after the resignation.

"We will not participate in any other majority, any reformatting in this National Assembly because the majority of the parliament is controlled by Delyan Peevski. Bulgaria must go to elections. The president must choose an acting prime minister who is not dependent on Peevski," the co-chairman of "Yes, Bulgaria" Ivaylo Mirchev told the Bulgarian National Radio. We recall that according to the latest changes to the Constitution, proposed by PP-DB, GERB and DPS, an acting prime minister can be appointed by the president, choosing among the speaker of the National Assembly, the governor or deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, the chairman or deputy chairman of the Court of Audit and the ombudsman or their deputy.

"There will be no reformatting. After these tricks no budget will be considered by us," GERB leader Boyko Borissov said.
"The winner is someone else, and he should come today." This was the comment of the leader of DPS - New Beginning, Peevski, addressing PP-DB minutes after Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced the resignation of the government.

"Bulgaria should be a social state and should help people. The entire responsibility currently lies with the ‘Soros’ coalition - PP-DB, I mean," he also said.

"I am surprised by the resignation of the government, and pleasantly so. It rarely happens in Bulgarian politics," said the leader of "Vazrazhdane", Kostadin Kostadinov, speaking to the Bulgarian National Radio.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova

Photo: BTA