President Radev extends wishes for peace and prosperity in a 'just Bulgaria'

In a New Year’s address to the Bulgarian people, President Rumen Radev stated that the past year had been dramatic for the world.

“I believe that our country must unequivocally support efforts for peace in Ukraine. The risk of the conflict expending has not passed, and we cannot rely on others to defend our interests if we are unable to do so ourselves”, President Radev said.

“The decision to adopt the single European currency is a strategic choice at a contentious moment. The introduction of the euro is the final milestone in Bulgaria’s integration into the European Union—a place that rightfully belongs to us, reflecting the achievements of our millennia-old culture and the country’s civilizational contributions. I believe that the abandonment of our national currency should have happened after a referendum, but the authorities refused to hear the citizens”, President Radev emphasized, describing this as a dramatic symptom of the deep divide between the political class and the people. He noted that the mass protests in the country have shown that the first budget in euros has been a very difficult task for the government and unleashed accumulated discontent over the governance model, corruption, inflation and arbitrary power.

“But the protests also showed that young Bulgarians no longer want to save themselves individually; instead, they are asking how they can help their homeland. Veterans of the transition period also flooded the squares, and this is the major political event of 2025. A national consensus against the mafia was born. Attempts to manipulate it through generational interpretations or by inserting other topics failed. People demanded democracy, justice, fair elections, objective media, a real European perspective, and a dignified life”, Rumen Radev said.

“May the coming months fulfill your personal dreams and our shared dream of a peaceful, free, prosperous and just Bulgaria”, concluded President Rumen Radev.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov